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CTIICAGO 

A  RECORD  OF 
PR.OGRE/^j5 


L^  r.! 


vJ  AN  U  A  R  Y 
1         9        1        9 


Annual  Report 

of  the 

Municipal  Departments 
City  of  Chicago 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Page 

Introduction    6 

Portrait  of  Mayor 7 

The  Record  Epitomized— 

Chart  showing  functional  grouping  of  departments 8 

Department  of  Finance 9 

Chart  showing  how  each  dollar  of  your  taxes  is  divided 11 

Chart  showing  saving  by  "over  the  counter"  method  of  selling 

bonds   13 

Corporate  Fund   16 

Chart  showing  increase  in  the  price  of  commodities  and  labor 

and  decrease  in  operating  expenses 17 

Department  of  Police 19 

Crime   Chart 20 

Classified  Crime  Chart 24 

Police  Department  Divorced  from  Politics 25 

Fire  Department   27 

Chart  showing  Decrease  in  Fire  Losses 27 

Illustrations  of  Fire  Department  Equipment 29 

Bureau  of  Fire  Prevention  and  Public  Safety 30 

Chart  showing  occurrence  of  fires  by  months — by  two-hour 

periods  in  the  day  and  by  battalion  districts 31 

Department  of  Health 33 

Chart  of  Diphtheria  and  Scarlet  Fever  Deaths 34 

Chart  showing  control  of  Typhoid  in  Chicago 35 

Chart  of  comparison  of  Typhoid  in  Chicago  with  other  cities  36 

Chart  of  comparison  of  Infantile  Paralysis 37 

Chart  of  Influenza  Deaths 38 

Venereal  Disease   campaign    39 

Street  Car  Ventilation    40 

Street  Car  Ventilation  Chart 41 

Municipal   Tuberculosis   Sanitarium    43 

Bird's  eye  View  of  Sanitarium    45 

Chart  showing  reduction  in  cost  of  maintenance  and  increase 

in  facilities  for  handling  patients 46 

Corporation  Counsel's  Office  52 

Important  legal  decisions 55 

Summary  of  cases  instituted 57 

Chart  showing  reduction  in  expenses  to  the  taxpayer  of  judg- 
ments against  the  city 61 

Department  of  Public  Works  63 

Chart  comparing  expenditures  for  repairs  with  increased  cost 

in  labor  and  materials 64 

Bridges     66 

"Mayfair  Pumping  Station   68 

Water  Pipe  Extension  Chart 69 

Bureau  of  Water 70 

"Bureau  of  Compensation 70 

Bureau  of  Maps  and  Plats   70 

Eureau  of  Waste  Disposal 71 

Bureau  of  Streets 71 

Bureau  of  Sewers    72 

Bureau  of  Parks,  Playgrounds  and  Bathing  Beaches 74 

Municipal  Pier   75 


C-f3 

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Bureau  of  Rivers  and  Harbors 76 

Bureau  of  Architecture 76 

Chart  of  Municipal  Playgrounds  of  Chicago 77 

Garden  Movement,  illustration 78 

Chicago-Cook  County  School  for  Boys,  illustration 83 

Twenty-sixth  District  Police  Station,  illustration 84 

Board  of  Examining  Engineers  86 

Department  of  Buildings 87 

Chart  showing  erection  of  Fireproof  building  and  total  front- 
age, by  years 88 

Chart  of  building  activities  from  1882  to  1918 89 

^  Chart  showing  comparison  of  expenses  to  appropriations  and 

_^                     revenue   90 

<^          Office  of  the  Inspector  of  Oils 91 

Department  of  Public  Service 94 

Gas  Bureau   94 

Telephone  Bureau    95 

Transportation  Bureau 95 

Electric  Bureavi    95 

Chart  showing  overcrowding  on  street  cars 96 

Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity 98 

Chart  showing  decrease  in  number  of  electric  fires 99 

Chart  comparing  value  of  services  rendered  to  the  cost  of 

such  services 100 

Chart  of  dollars  per  capita  and  lunems  per  capita 101 

Bureau  of  Operation 102 

New  Lamp  Design,  illustration 103 

Bureau  of  Electrical  Inspection 104 

Bureau  of  Fire  Alarm  and  Police  Telegraph 104 

Bureau  of  Material,  Wiring,  and  Repairs 104 

Department  of  Public  Welfare  105 

A  Corner  of  the  Municipal  Wood  Yard,  illustration 107 

Cragin   Garden,   illustration    109 

First  Municipal  Children's  Garden,  illustration   Ill 

Department   of    Smoke   Inspection    112 

House  of  Correction   115 

Board  of  Local  Improvements   118 

Twelfth  Street  Widening,  illustration    120 

Twelfth  Street   after  Widening,   illustration    121 

Michigan  Boulevard  before  Widening,  illustration   122 

Michigan  Boulevard  improvement  work  in  progress 123 

0»        City  Collector   126 

Department  of  Inspection  of  Steam  Boilers  and  Steam  Plants  129 

Chart  showing  appropriations  as  compared  to  gross  revenue  130 

S                 A  Pressure  Tank  that  was  not  Inspected,  illustration 131 

^        Department  of  Weights  and  Measures  133 

£^         Chicago  Public  Library   134 

Department  of  Supplies  136 

Civil  Service  Commission   138 

fl^       Co-operation  With  the  Federal  Government 141 

Liberty  Loan  Campaign    142 

Subscriptions  of  the  various  departments   143 

Fourth  Liberty  Loan  Campaign — Subscriptions  of  the  depart- 
ments       144 


ABSTRACT  INDEX. 

Department  of  Finance — Page  9. 

Over  $1,000,000.00  saving  effected  by  selling  Municipal  bonds 
"over  the  counter." 

Lowered  per  capita  cost  of  conducting  Municipal  affairs  in  the 
face  of  an  increase  in  the  price  of  labor  and  commodities. 

This  report  emphasizes  the  necessity  for  immediate  relief  by  the 
legislature  of  the  city's  financial  condition. 
Department  of  Police — Page  19. 

Crime  has  been  reduced  37  5/8%  during  the  past  year,  and  62% 
during  the  past  three  and  one-half  years. 
Fire  Department — Page  27. 

The  total  value  of  buildings  destroyed  by  fire  shows  a  marked 
decrease— $5,000,000.00  in  1915;  $4,100,000.00  in  1918. 
Department  of  Health — Page  35. 

Chicago  is  the  healthiest  city  in  the  world.  The  typhoid  death 
rate  is  now  the  lowest  in  any  large  city. 

Infantile  Paralysis,  Influenza  and  other  contagious  diseases  much 
less  prevalent  than  in  eastern  cities. 
Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium— Page  43. 

Decided  reduction  in  cost  per  capita  in  caring  for  patients  in  face 
of  the  increased  cost  of  all  commodities,  and  the  high  standard 
of  care  and  treatment  maintained.  The  capacity  increased 
from  600  beds  in  1915  to  950  in  1918,  without  constructing  any 
new  infirmary  or  cottage  buildings. 
Corporation  Counsel's  Office — Page  52. 

A  great  many  important  legal  decisions  obtained,  resulting  in 
considerable  saving  of  the  tax  payers'  money  over  that  of 
previous  years. 

Reduced   the   average   judgments   of  claims   against  the  city  to 
$120.86  in  1918,  the  lowest  on  record. 
Department  of  Public  Works — Page  63. 

Began  and  carried  to  completion  many  important  public  im- 
provements, including  bridges,  hospitals,  police  stations,  pub- 
lic baths,  comfort  stations,  etc. 

Increased  the  number  of  Municipal  playgrounds  from  27  in  1915 
to  70  in  1918. 
Department  of  Buildings — Page  87. 

This  report  shows  that  within  the  last  four  years  no  deaths  or 
serious  accidents  have  occurred  in  any  theatre  or  other  place 
of  entertainment  in  the  city,  although  approximately  2,000,000 
patrons  visit  these  places  each  week. 
Department  of  Public  Service — Page  94. 

This  department  has  received,  investigated  and  adjusted  from 
50  to  200  complaints  per  day  relating  to  improper  service 
from  public  utility  corporations. 

Prepared    valuable    data    and   made    extensive    observations    and 
checks   on   service   conditions,  which  form    a   secure  basis   for 
legal  enactment  and  control. 
Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity — Page  98. 

In  the  past  three  years  this  department  has  completed  the  con- 
struction of  14,336  additional  electric  street  lights  and  op- 
erated all  the  electric  street  lights  in  1918  at  an  enormous 
saving  to  the  Municipality. 


Greatly  increased  the  efficiency  of  the  system  and  the  amount 

of  light  per  capita. 
Reduced  the  number  of  electrical  fires  33  1/3%. 

Department  of  Public  Welfare — Page  105. 

Established  a  Municipal  wood  yard  for  hoboes,  saving  the  city 

$40,000.00  annually  thereby. 
Founded  the  first  Municipal  garden  and  the  first  Municipal  chil- 
\  dren's  garden,  and  made  the  first  complete  authoritative  wel- 

fare survey. 

Department  of  Smoke  Inspection — Page  112. 

Co-operated  with  the  Federal  government  in  fuel  conservation. 
Carried  on  an  extensive  campaign  of  education  and  assistance 
y^  in  showing  the  property  owner  how  to  equip  and  operate  heat- 
ing plants  to  obtain  the  best  results  with  a  minimum  expendi- 
ture of  fuel. 

House  of  Correction — Page  115. 

This  institution  does  a  large  amount  of  the  city's  printing;  the 
laundry  work  for  the  police  and  health  departments;  manu- 
factures all  the  clothing  for  the  inmates,  and  supplies  the  city 
with  enormous  quantities  of  brick,  crushed  stone  and  other 
necessities  at  a  marked  saving  of  the  city's  funds.  Receipts 
for  the  first  eleven  months  of  1918  were  about  $407,000.00  and 
the  expenditures  $449,000.00. 

Board  of  Local  Improvements — Page  118. 

The  12th  Street  widening  project  has  been  completed;  the  Michi- 
gan Boulevard  link  is  well  under  way,  the  street  widening  hav- 
ing been  accomplished  to  Chicago  Avenue;  material  is  on  hand 
for  the  construction  of  the  double  deck  bridge.  Other  important 
improvements  that  make  for  a  bigger  and  better  Chicago  show 
satisfactory  progress. 

Boiler  Inspection  Department — Page  129. 

This  report  shows  receipts  much  in  excess  of  the  revenues,  show- 
ing the  undesirability  of  reducing  its  inspection  force.  An 
illustration  of  one  pressure  tank  that  was  not  inspected,  on 
acceunt  of  insufficient  force,  is  submitted. 

Department  of  Weights  and  Measures — Page  133. 

Maintaining  the  present  efficiency  of  this  branch  of  the  service 
is  of  vital  concern  to  every  citizen  in  Chicago.  The  depart- 
ment is  also  self-supporting  with  its  present  inadequate  force, 
and  the  expense  incurred  in  maintaining  it  at  the  highest 
point  of  efficiency  is  extremely  small  in  comparison  with  the 
value  of  its  sei-vice  to  the  tax  payer. 

Civil  Service  Commission — Page  138. 

Their  record  is  one  of  increased  effi.ciency  and  accomplishments. 
The  material  reduction  in  the  number  of  temporary  employes 
over  that  of  previous  years  is  an  important  feature. 

The  closing  pages  deal  with  co-operation  of  the  administration 
with  the  Federal  government  in  war  work  and  in  the  various 
Liberty  Loan  campaigns;  the  visit  of  the  French  Commission 
to  Chicago,  and  other  matters  that  have  been  ignored  or  mis- 
represented by  some  of  the  newspapers  of  the  city. 

The  last  page  is  a  letter  from  Capt.  Moffett,  Commandant  of 
the  GreatLakes  Naval  Training  Station,  to  His  Honor  Wm. 
Hale  Thompson,  Mayor  of  Chicago. 


INTRODUCTION 

IT  has  been  my  custom  in  the  past  as  Mayor  of  Chicago  to  ren- 
der an  annual  message  to  the  City  Council,  which  has  been 
more  or  less  a  formal  statement  of  the  work  done  by  the  different 
municipal  departments.  This  report  has  necessarily  been  brief 
and  incomplete  and  has  failed  to  accomplish  the  desired  purpose 
of  furnishing  to  the  people  of  Chicago  a  true  record  of  the  year's 
accomplishment  and  a  guide  to  future  action. 

This  year  I  have  asked  each  department  of  the  City  to  fur- 
nish me  a  report  of  the  attainments  of  that  department  and  from 
these  records  I  have  had  compiled  such  information  as  I  believe 
the  people  of  Chicago  are  interested  in  as  a  report  from  their 
representatives  who  are  handling  these  departments  for  them.  I 
have  entitled  this  report,  "A  Record  of  Progress,"  and  I  believe 
the  facts  warrant  this  title.  In  some  instances  I  have  presented 
these  reports  in  chart  form  so  that  one  may  see  at  a  glance  the 
condition  of  the  department  and  what  has  been  achieved. 

Notwithstanding  the  abnormal  demands  upon  our  City  dur- 
ing the  recent  years — increased  cost  of  materials,  increased  wages 
of  municipal  employees,  increase  in  service  required,  and  decrease 
in  revenues,  the  departments  of  the  City  Government  show  a  uni- 
form record  of  increased  efficiency  and  economy.  Untruthful 
statements  in  certain  newspapers  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding, 
Chicago  has  responded  nobly  to  every  demand  made  upon  her  by 
the  Government  in  time  of  war,  and  in  soldiers,  in  money  and  all 
activities  which  spelled  cooperation  and  success  for  our  country, 
Chicago  in  every  department  of  its  government  has  given  its  full 
measure  of  devotion. 

Now  that  the  terrible  war  seems  to  be  at  an  end,  let  us  turn 
our  eyes  to  the  future  with  a  determination  to  solve  every  ques- 
tion of  reconstruction  and  to  meet  all  problems  of  future  progress 
of  our  beloved  city  in  that  spirit  of  loyalty  and  unselfish  helpful- 
ness that  has  made  Chicago  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  world  and 
has  challenged  the  admiration  of  all  mankind.  For  she  stands 
as  the  living  embodiment  of  the  noble  sentiment  proclaimed  by  her 
motto  "I  Will."  /  Very  sincerely  yours. 


January,  ipip.  (/         Mayor 


WILLIAM  HALE  THOMPSON 

Mayor 


a 


L 


ET  us  turn  our  eyes  to  the  future,  zvith  a  determina- 
tion to  solve  every  question  of  reconstruction  and  to  meet 
all  problems  of  future  progress  of  our  beloved  city,  in  that 
spirit  of  loyalty  and  unselfish  helpfulness  that  has  made  Chicago 
one  of  the  zvonders  of  the  world  and  has  challenged  the  admira- 
tion of  all  mankind.  For  she  stands-  as  the  living  embodiment  of 
the  noble  sentiment  proclaimed  by  her  motto,  7  Will.'  " 


DEPARTMENT  OF  FINANCE 

Eugene  R.  Pike,  Comptroller 

selling  city  bonds  and 
the  counter"  direct  to 
gurated  in  this  admin- 
ent  city  comptroller, 
sold  over  the  counter 


THE  practice  of 
securities  "over" 
the  people  was  inau- 
istration  by  the  pres- 
There  have  been 
$9,989,500.00  of  4% 
have  been  so  pro- 
payment  to  contract- 
different  improve- 
This  obviates  the  ne- 
large  cash  balances  in 


bonds.  These  sales 
moted  as  to  insure 
ors  as  work  on  the 
m  e  n  t  s  progressed, 
c  e  s  s  i  t  y  of  carrying 
the  City  treasury,  on 


which  the  City  would  receive  the  prevailing  bank  rate  of  interest 
on  City  deposits,  averaging  from  2%  to  3%,  the  bonds  drawing 
4%,  a  loss  of  from  50%.  to  100%  in  interest  if  the  bonds  were 
sold  in  large  blocks,  as  was  previously  the  custom.  Not  only 
has  the  City  been  annually  the  gainer  by  several  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  by  this  method  of  disposing  of  its  bonds,  but  we 
have  performed  a  service  to  the  citizens  in  supplying  them  with 
an  absolutely  safe,  gilt-edged  4%  security  netting  them  a  33/^% 
greater  return  on  their  money  than  is  received  from  the  or- 
dinary savings  acount.  Furthermore,  we  have  made  the  bond 
particularly  attractive  to  the  small  investor  by  agreeing  to  re- 
purchase at  any  time  at  its  face  value  with  interest  to  the  date 
of  payment ;  and  we  have  also  built  up  a  clientele  of  investors 
for  future  issues  of  bonds,  which  practically  insures  the  suc- 
cess of  the  "Over-the-counter"  method  of  disposing  of  City 
bonds.  This  has  all  been  done  without  the  addition  of  a  sin- 
gle clerk.  One  man  has  handled  all  the  sales  in  connection  with 
his  other  duties. 

For  the  current  year,  the  depository  banks  pay  3%  interest 
on  City  money.  This  is  a  most  satisfactory  rate  compared  to 
the  interest  received  by  other  large  municipalities,  which,  in 
some  instances,  we  learn  is  only  2%  per  annum.  The  amend- 
ment to  the  City  ordinances  recommended  by  the  Comptroller, 
permitting  the  naming  of  an  active  bank  for  as  long  a  period  as 
one  year,  has  had  much  to  do  with  securing  a  higher  rate  for 


10  Department  of  Finance 

the  City.  In  this  connection,  a  great  advantage  has  been  ob- 
tained for  the  City  in  the  safeguarding  of  its  funds  on  deposit 
in  the  numerous  banks  by  securing  the  cooperation  of  the 
Clearing  House  Committee.  These  men  have  generously  devoted 
their  time  in  passing  on  the  sufficiency  of  depository  bank  bonds. 

The  law  permitting  the  City  to  invest  Its  surplus  moneys  in 
tax  warrants  has  enabled  the  City  to  issue  its  tax  warrants  on  a 
3%  basis.  It  has  also  enabled  the  City  to  purchase  the  tax 
warraiits  issued  by  the  Board  of  Education  and  the  Police,  Fire 
and  Municipal  Pension  Funds  on  the  same  basis.  There  is 
to-day  invested  in  tax  warrants  $19,106,703.50.  Under  present 
financial  conditions  these  warrants  could  not  have  been  disposed 
of  in  the  open  market  on  less  than  a  5%  basis,  so  that  the  saving 
on  all  of  these  warrants  has  been  at  least  2%  per  annum,  or 
$382,000.00. 

Out  of  the  City's  surplus  funds  there  have  also  been  pur- 
chased $4,860,000.00  4%  and  4>4%  Tiberty  Loan  Bonds,  and 
$5,549,900.00  of  the  City's  own  4%  municipal  bonds,  and  a  further 
payment  of  $400,000.00  has  been  made  on  a  purchase  of  $4,000,- 
000.00  Fourth  Liberty  Loan  Bonds,  the  balance  to  be  paid  by 
July  I,  1919. 

During  the  past  four  years,  there  were  submitted  to  the 
voters  and  approved  by  them  the  following  bond  issues : 

Bathing  Beach  and  Playground %    600,000.00 

Police    Department    Building    1,199,000.00 

Health    Department    Building    for    Completion    of    Con- 
tagious  Disease  Hospital    500,000.00 

Health  Department  for  Construction  and  Equipment  of 

Garbage  Reduction  Works    700,000.00 

Fire   Department   Building    663,000.00 

House    of    Correction    for    Dormitory    of    John    Worthy 

School     60,000.00 

House  of  Correction  for  House  of  Shelter  for  Women  and 

Farm    Colony    250,000.00 

Total    for    1915     $3,972,000.00 

Municipal  Street  Lighting  Bonds    $3,750,000.00 

Bridge    5,100,000.00 

Total   for   1916    $8,850,000.00 

Waste    Disposal    Bonds     $1,000,000.00 

Health   Department  Additional   Buildings 750,000.00 

School   for'  Bovs    250,000.00 

Public  Comfort  Stations 150,000.00 

Total  for  1917 $2,150,000.00 

Michigan  Avenue  Street  Improvement  Bonds,  1918 $3,000,000.00 


Department  of  Finance 


11 


HOW  EACH  DOLLAR  OF 

TOUR  TAXES  IS 

DIVIDED 


TME  CITY  GtT5  OMLY  IZJiCEflTS  OUT 
OF  EACH  D0LLAB,A50UT '/6^ 
OF  THE  nO/NEY  WITH  WhICH  TO  DO 
APPROXIMATELY  %^'  OF  TtiE  WOBK. 


EUQE/SE   R.PlKt 

COMPTROCLtR 


12  Department  of  Finance 

The  following  is  the  City  Debt  Statement,  estimated  as  of 
December  31,  1918: 

Valuation     $1,062,959,802.00 

5%    borrowing   power    53,147,990.10 

Debt    $37,361,932.24 

Bonds  authorized  but  unsold    11,400,000.00 

48,761,932.24 

Unexercised    borrowing    power    $        4,386,057.86 

City  Property — 

Fixed  Assets,  Dec.  31,  1917 $200,473,950.36 

Estimated   increase   in    1918 13,689,265.02 

$    214,163,215.38 

Since  1915,  the  Comptroller  has  purchased  in  the  open  mar- 
ket $687,000.00  City  of  Chicago  Bonds,  at  a  figure  consirably 
below  par,  the  price  being  $680,621.30,  resulting  in  a  saving  of 
$6,378.70  in  principal  and  $96,000.00  in  interest. 

Purchases  of  Real  Estate  during  the  past  four  years  wdll 
exceed  $1,400,000.00,  of  which  the  following  may  be  mentioned: 

Department  of  Public  Works 

Bureau  of  Parks,  Playgrounds   and  Bathing   Beaches — 

Holden    Playground    $  15,000.00 

Rainbow  Park  (South  Shore  Beach) 463,000.00 

Clarendon  Beach    98,000.00 

12th   Ward   Playground 2,200.00 


$  578,200.00 


Bureau  of  Streets — 

4th,  11th,  13th,  and  14th  Ward  Yards.  .$  14,240.00 
Asphalt  Plant,  91st  and   State   Streets..     14,000.00 

Bureau  of  Waste  Disposal — 

Quarry,  Grand  and  Western  Avenues.  .  .$121,750.00 

Goose   Island   Incinerator    81,750.00 

Additional  land  for  Reduction  Plant 76,875.00 

Bureau  of  Engineering — Water  Fund — 
Disposal  Stations — 

Wilson  and  Lawndale  Avenues $  10,050.00 

73rd  and  Wood  Streets   25,000.00 

Pumping    Stations — 

Roseland     13,017.00 

Mayfair    38,400.00 

73rd  Street  and  Stony  Island  Avenue  37,500.00 

61st  Street  and  Western  Avenue 27,357.00 


28,240.00 


280,375.00 


151,324.00 


Department  of  Finance 


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14  Department  of  Finance 

Fire  Department 

Sites  for  fire  stations  at  Burnside,  Roseland,  West  Ra- 
venswood,  Gage  Park,  43rd  Street  and  Marshfield 
Avenue,  Springfield  and  North  Avenues,  Morgan 
and  Harrison  Streets,  Halsted  Street  and  Wright- 
wood  Avenue,  54th  Street  and  Lake  Park  Avenue, 
42nd  Street  and  Archer  Avenue,  Monroe  and  Laflin 
Streets,    etc 66,000.00 

Police  Department 

Sites  for  police  stations  at  48th  Street  and  Wabash 
Avenue,  23rd  and  Robey  Streets,  25th  Street  and 
Cottage  Grove  Avenue,  91st  Street  and  Cottage 
Grove  Avenue,  Bryn  Mawr  and  Ashland  Avenues, 
Morgan  Park,  31st  Street  and  Lowe  Avenue,  Chi- 
cago and  Lorel  Avenues,  Racine  Avenue  and  Su- 
perior Street,  35th  Street  and  Marshfield  Avenue, 
Monroe  Street  and  Racine  Avenue,  Haddon  and 
Western  Avenues,  62nd  and  Throop  Streets,  and 
29th   Street   and   Calumet   Avenue 180,270.00 

Health  Department 

12th   Ward  Bath    5,750.00 

Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity 

Substations  at  Keokuk  and  Kildare  Avenues,  Yates  and 
South  Chicago  Avenues  ,  and  103rd  and  Halsted 
Streets    3,100.00 

House  of  Correction 

Site  for  Colony  Farm  and  House  of  Shelter,  372  acres, 

at  Joliet  Road  and   County   Line 109,370.00 

Total     $1,402,629.00 

In  191 5  the  City  obtained  from  the  State  of  lUinois  by  grant 
bathing  beach  property  at  51st  Street  and  Lake  Michigan,  having 
an  area  of  2.8  acres. 

At  the  request  of  the  Comptroller,  the  City  Council  passed 
an  ordinance  authorizing  the  purchase  of  real  estate  without 
disclosing  the  identity  of  the  City  as  the  purchaser.  Some  of 
the  largest  purchases  have  been  made  under  such  authority  and 
at  much  lower  prices  tlian  otherwise  could  have  been  obtained. 

The  Municipal  junk  yard  at  the  House  of  Correction  is 
thoroughly  established.  All  old  accumulations  of  junk  have  been 
collected  and  current  reports  are  receiving  prompt  attention. 
This  has  resulted  in  the  release  for  more  important  use  of  large 
amounts  of  space  at  various  shops  and  yards,  which  heretofore 
have  been  used  for  the  storage  of  old  material ;  and  the  House 


Department  of  Finance  15 

of  Correction,  through  its  faciHties  for  sorting  over  material 
collected,  has  been  able  to  turn  back  a  large  quantity  for  City 
use  and  to  obtain  high  prices  for  material  sold.  It  is  estimated 
that  the  revenue  to  the  City  from  this  operation  will  be  approx- 
imately $80,000.00  annually,  or  double  the  revenue  obtained  under 
the  old  system. 

By  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  passed  at  the  last  session, 
beginning  January  i,  1918,  the  City  Collector  is  authorized  to 
make  all  special  assessment  collections.  Heretofore,  after  April 
I,  special  assessment  collections  were  made  by  the  County  Col- 
lector, who  made  returns  to  the  City  Treasurer  at  irregular  inter- 
vals. Under  the  new  law,  the  City  Collector  will  make  his  returns 
daily  to  the  City  Treasurer.  This  will  effect  an  estimated  saving 
in  interest  of  $50,000.00  a  year,  aside  from  enhancing  the  credit 
of  special  assessment  paper  by  its  prompt  payment. 

Our  Public  Utility  Accounting  Division  has  been  working  in 
harmony  with  the  Council  Committees,  and  assisted  in  the  prep- 
aration of  an  ordinance  for  telegraph  companies  by  which  the 
City  will  receive  approximately  $25,000.00  annual  compensation 
as  against  approximately  $1,500.00  previously  paid  annually. 
This  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  Council  and  accepted  by  the 
companies. 

This  departm;ent  has  been  working  on  the  records  of  the  Chi- 
cago Telephone  Company  for  the  purpose  of  determining  proper 
telephone  rates,  on  which  a  report  is  soon  to  be  made  to  the  Gas, 
Oil  and  Electric  Light  Committee. 

In  the  Elevated  Railroad  rate  case  before  the  State  Public 
Utility  Commission,  accountants  of  this  division  made  an  exam- 
ination of  the  books  of  the  Elevated  Companies,  and  assisted  the 
Corporation  Counsel  before  the  Commission. 

The  Surface  Lines  rate  case  is  now  before  the  State  Public 
Utility  Commission,  and  this  department  is  now  checking  the 
various  statements  made  by  the  Companies,  and  otherwise  assist- 
ing the  Corporation  Counsel  in  his  efforts  to  keep  the  Companies 
from  raising  fares  without  a  proper  showing  of  the  necessity 
therefor. 

As  indicating  in  a  general  way  the  volume  of  work  handled 
in  the  Comptroller's  Office,  the  following  facts  may  be  of  inter- 
est:  There  is  an  aggregate  of  30,938  employees  on  the  payrolls 
of  the  City,  Schools,  Library  and  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sani- 


16  Department  of  Finance 


tarium.  Most  of  these  employees  are  paid  twice  a  month.  The 
Paymaster  handles  on  an  average  of  55,000  checks  per  month,  or 
a  total  of  660,000  checks  per  year,  aggregating  $37,500,000.00. 

The  Special  Assessment  Division  annually  issued  bonds, 
vouchers,  and  rebates  to  the  number  51,000,  amounting  to 
$8,150,000.00. 

The  Accounting  Division  approved  warrants  for  collection  to 
the  number  of  108,000,  amounting  to  $1,098,000.00. 

The  Audit  Division  examined  and  passed  to  payment  vouch- 
ers and  contracts  estimated  at  45,000,  representing  a  total  of 
$7,500,000.00. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  office  force  of  130  was  depleted 
30%  by  reason  of  42  employees  joining  the  colors,  we  have  with 
untrained  help  and  without  additional  expense  continued  the 
work  with  apparent  satisfaction  to  the  public. 

CORPORATE  FUND 

The  operating  fund  or  working  fund  of  the  City  of  Chicago 
is  the  Corporate  Fund.  Out  of  this  fund  are  paid  the  expenses 
of  cleaning  streets,  removal  of  garbage,  police  and  fire  protec- 
tion, street  lighting.  Health  Department,  and  all  the  other  City 
activities  connected  with  furnishing  adequate  public  service  to 
the  citizens. 

The  same  causes  that  have  tended  to  increase  expenses  gen- 
erally have  had  the  same  effect  upon  the  cost  of  City  service : 
the  rising  cost  of  material,  the  increase  in  the  union  scale  of 
wages,  and  the  demand  for  a  broader  scope  and  improved  service 
is  felt  in  nearly  every  department. 

Another  factor  that  annually  increased  our  corporate  ex- 
penses is  due  to  the  cost  of  operation  and  maintenance  of  new 
municipal  projects,  the  original  cost  of  which  is  paid  from  bond 
issues. 

The  revenue  to  defray  these  expenses  is  derived  from  two 
sources  :  taxes,  and  miscellaneous  licenses  and  receipts.  While  the 
same  service  is  costing  the  City  from  25%  to  50%  more  than  it 
did  four  years  ago,  our  revenues  have  not  increased  any,  but  on 
the  contrary  have  steadily  decreased.  The  two  principal  causes  of 
this  decrease  were  the  national  legislation  on  the  liquor  question 
and  the  tax  suits  brought  by  large  property  interests  contesting 
the  legality  of  the  City's  tax  levies. 


Department  of  Finance  17 

By  reason  of  these  tax  suits,  the  Corporate  Fund  lost  in  1917 
$1,025,000.00.  The  1916  Corporate  tax  levy  was  declared  totally 
invalid,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  payment  of  taxes  by  the  small 
property  owner,  the  City  would  have  lost  the  entire  amount  of  its 
Corporate  tax  for  the  year  1916.  As  these  large  interests  are  the 
most  persistent  applicants  for  special  privileges  at  the  hands  of  the 
City  Council  and  are  generally  insistent  upon  increased  police  and 
fire  protection,  a  report  was  made  to  the  City  Council  giving  the 
names  of  the  principal  objectors,  which  was  published  in  the  Coun- 
cil Proceedings,  June  11,  1917,  page  412,  in  an  effort  to  discourage 
the  continuance  of  these  suits.  These  efforts  have  received  very 
little,  if  any,  publicity  on  the  part  of  the  public  press.  Practically 
the  same  objectors  have  contested  the  payment  of  their  taxes  for 
the  years  1917  and  1918.  The  necessity  for  the  levies  is  not 
brought  into  question,  the  objectors  merely  trying  to  evade  the 
payment  of  their  taxes  on  the  ground  of  some  legal  quibble. 

During  the  past  two  years  there  has  been  lost  to  the  Corporate 
Fund  nearly  $2,000,000.00  from  saloon  licenses.  National  legis- 
lation on  the  liquor  question  has  caused  an  immense  falling  off  in 
the  number  of  licenses  issued,  and  the  City  will  no  doubt  be 
deprived  of  practically  this  entire  revenue  during  the  coming 
year.  When  it  is  realized  that  the  revenue  from  saloon  licenses 
has  been  for  a  number  of  years  practically  $7,000,000.00,  and 
that  the  revenue  from  taxes  is  being  successfully  attacked  to  the 
extent  of  about  $1,000,000.00  per  year,  we  are  confronted  with  a 
loss  of  about  $8,000,000.00  in  the  Corporate  revenues  for  the 
year  1919. 

In  addition  to  this,  because  of  our  losses  during  the  current 
year  in  taxes,  saloon  licenses  and  miscellaneous  receipts,  we  have 
been  unable  to  meet  our  October,  November  and  December  pay 
rolls;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  successful  efforts  of  the  Comp- 
troller in  securing  the  attention  of  prominent  bankers,  who 
agreed  to  pay  City  claim  warrants,  the  City  would  have  had  to 
default  in  the  payment  of  its  employees'  salaries  for  tlie  last 
three  months.  The  City  will  owe  the  bankers  at  the  end  of  the 
year  approximately  $5,000,000.00.  Of  this  amount,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  sum  advanced  to  meet  the  pay  rolls,  approximately 
$3,250,000.00  would  be  a  first  lien  on  the  1919  receipts. 

In  summing  up  the  situation,  we  are  confronted,  therefore, 
with  a  loss,  as  above  stated,  in  revenue  of  $8,000,000.00,  and  an 


18 


Department  of  Finance 


obligation  of  $3,250,000.00,  making  a  total  of  $11,250,000,00  less 
revenue  for  the  year  1919  than  we  have  had  for  many  years. 
The  seriousness  of  this  situation  can  hardly  be  overstated,  and 
the  necessity  for  immediate  action  by  the  legislature  is  most 
imperative.  Appropriations,  under  the  statutes,  must  be  made 
during  the  first  quarter  of  the  year  and  are  based  on  the  estimated 
revenues.  Without  immediate  relief,  appropriations  must  be  prac- 
tically cut  in  two,  with  a  similar  reduction  in  all  branches  of  the 
City's  service. 


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DEPARTMENT  OF  POLICE 

John  J.  Garrity,  General  Superintendent 


T^HE  records  of 
ment  show  a  re- 
from  the  middle  of 
cember  i,  191 8,  of 
The  chart  on  the  op-i 
number  of  criminal 
to  1918  inclusive, 
an  analysis  of  these 
c  e  n  y  —  Burglary  — 
laneous. 

a  syllabus  of  the  ac- 
plishments  of  the  department  during  the 


the  Police  Depart- 
duction  in  crime 
the  year  191 5  to  De- 
slightly  over  61%. 
posite  page  shows  the 
complaints  from  1905 
The  next  chart  shows 
complaints  into  Lar- 
Robbery  and  Miscel- 
The  following  is 
tivities  and  accom- 
past  year : 


Decrease  of  crime  in  Chicago 37  3/5% 

No.  of  men  in  military  service 258 

Officers  killed  in  the  performance  of  duty 3 

New  automobile  patrols  placed  in  service 12 

New  automobile  ambulances  placed  in  service 3 

New  police  stations  opened    3 

New  police  stations  opened  for  women  exclusively 3 

Stations  abandoned   9 

From  January  i,  1918,  to  December  i,  1918,  there  was  a  total 
number  of  9,885  criminal  complaints  received,  as  compared  with 
16,495  l^st  year;  or,  in  other  words,  a  decrease  of  approximately 
37  3/5%-  This  decrease  in  crime,  taking  into  consideration  the 
depleted  condition  of  the  department,  ( i )  to  the  large  number  of 
officers  who  joined  the  colors;  (2)  the  deaths  which  occurred 
and  (3)  the  resignation  of  officers,  all  of  which  vacancies  could 
not  be  filled  because  of  the  fact  that  the  majority  of  the  men  who 
were  capable  of  performing  the  duties  of  a  police  officer  were  at 
the  front,  shows  that  the  efficiency  of  this  department  has  greatly 
increased  during  the  current  year.  During  the  period  mentioned 
three  brave  officers  lost  their  lives  in  the  discharge  of  duty. 

During  the  year  the  following  police  stations  were  abandoned 
so  that  the  maintenance  costs  of  these  stations  could  be  applied 
in  the  maintenance  of  the  department. 

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Department  of  Police  21 

Precinct  Location 

Old     3rd   210  W.  22nd  St. 

Old    6th 740  W.  35th  St. 

Old     9th 1 1033  Hale  Ave. 

Old  i2th   6344  Harper  Ave. 

Old  24th  2250  W.  13th  St. 

Old  30th 4250  W.  Lake  St. 

Old  31st 5610  W.  Lake  St. 

Old  32nd 1 123  W.  Chicago  Ave. 

Old  33rd 1312  W.  North  Ave. 

Recently  three  stations  exclusively  for  women  have  been 
placed  in  operation  in  this  city.  These  are  known  as  Detention 
Homes  Nos.  i,  2,  and  3,  and  are  located  as  follows: 

Detention  Home  No.   i  located  at  1501  Hudson  Ave. 
Detention  Home  No.  2  located  at  2250  W.  North  Ave. 
Detention  Home  No.  3  located  at  454  E.  35th  St. 
It  is  conceded  by  criminologists  and  reform  organizations 
that  exclusive  stations  for  females  is  the  most  humane  and  up-to- 
date  method  of   dealing  with  women  and  children  who,   from 
various  causes,  come  into  the  hands  of  the  Police  Department. 
Chicago,  to  my  knowledge,  is  the  only  city  in  the  United  States 
that  has  adopted  this  plan. 

During  this  year  three  new  police  stations  have  been  put  in 
operation,  as  follows : 

Twenty-fourth  Precinct — Racine  Ave.  and  Superior  St.,  3 
story  and  basement,  brick  station  and  court,  cost  $146,000.00. 

Seventh  Precinct — 91st  St.  and  Cottage  Grove  Ave.,  2  story 
and  basement,  brick  station,  cost  $69,350.00. 

Twenty-third  Precinct — Lorel  and  Chicago  Aves.,  2  story 
and  basement,  brick  station,  cost  $83,500.00. 

The  abandonment  of  the  stations  mentioned  and  the  placing 
in  operation  of  the  new  stations  required  the  re-arranging  of 
telephone  lines  and  signal  circuits.  In  connection  with  this  work, 
188  police  boxes  and  the  signal  circuits  of  seven  stations  were 
rebuilt  to  operate  on  the  multiple  system.  The  new  Seventh  Pre- 
cinct Station  at  91st  St.  and  Cottage  Grove  Ave.  was  equipped 
with  two  signal  circuits,  fifteen  boxes  and  the  necessary  station 
apparatus  for  the  operation  of  the  same. 

There  were  12  new  automobile  patrols  and  2  new  automobile 
ambulances  purchased  and  placed  in  service  during  the  current 


22  Department  of  Police 

year.     This  makes  a  total  of  89  auto-vehicles  now  in  service 
in  the  department,  in  addition  to  i  motor  boat  and  50  motorcycles. 

The  recent  influenza-pneumonia  epidemic  demonstrated  that 
the  Ambulance  division  of  this  department  is  second  to  none  in 
efficiency.  The  ambulances  of  this  department,  during  the  epi- 
demic, were  used  exclusively  for  the  transportation  of  influenza 
and  pneumonia  cases  to  the  various  hospitals,  while  the  auto- 
mobile patrols  were  used  for  the  purpose  of  handling  other  sick 
and  injury  cases  during  that  period.  The  total  number  of  sick 
and  injured  persons  transported  to  hospitals  in  the  ambulances  of 
this  department  during  the  period  from  January  i  to  December 
I,  1918,  was  11,384.  Of  this  number  3,251  were  influenza  and 
pneumonia  cases.  The  total  number  of  miles  traveled  by  ambu- 
lances of  this  department  during  the  period  from  January  i  to 
December  i,  1918,  was  124,811. 

Attention  should  also  be  called  to  the  efficient  work  per- 
formed by  the  Chicago  Police  Reserve.  This  organization  was 
formed  by  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police  for  the  purpose 
of  aiding  the  regular  police  force  in  times  of  extraordinary  con- 
ditions of  danger,  peril,  riots,  pestilence,  war  and  other  emer- 
gencies, also  at  ordinary  times,  suitable  to  the  convenience  of 
the  members,  to  assist  in  the  prevention  and  detection  of  crime, 
and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  and  ordinances.  The  Reserve  at 
the  present  time  consists  of  1,600  officers  and  men,  which  is  a 
decrease  from  the  usual  number  of  about  200.  This  decrease  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  members  think  it  is  unnecessary 
to  continue  this  work  since  the  signing  of  the  armistice.  The 
organization  was  used  during  the  present  year  on  various  occa- 
sions where  large  numbers  of  patrolmen  would  be  required,  mak- 
ing it  possible  to  leave  several  hundred  patrolmen  to  pursue  their 
regular  duties.  Among  some  of  the  duties  performed  by  the 
members  of  this  organization  were :  notifying  the  various  house- 
holders during  the  heavy  snow  storms  of  last  winter  to  clear  the 
sidewalks  and  streets  of  snow,  the  members  also  assisting  as  a 
body  in  cleaning  the  streets  and  making  possible  the  continuance 
of  business  and  the  unhampered  service  of  the  Fire  Department ; 
the  participation  in  the  various  parades  and  policing  the  line  of 
march  of  these  parades  during  the  year ;  the  participation  in  the 
fimeral  services  of  the  late  General  Superintendent  of  Police 
Herman  F.  Schuettler;  assisting  in  the  collection  of  the  election 


Department  of  Police  23 

returns  on  Primary  and  Election  days ;  the  assisting  of  the  regular 
department  in  preserving  order  on  Armistice  Day;  and  during 
the  influenza-pneumonia  epidemic  683  of  these  patriotic  citizens 
worked  nightly  for  two  weeks  assisting  the  department  in  enforc- 
ing the  health  regulations  promulgated  by  the  State  and  City 
Departments  of  Health.  The  existence  of  the  Chicago  Police 
Reserve  is  based  on  Section  1919  of  The  Chicago  Code  of  191 1, 
which  provides  for  special  patrolmen  being  sworn  in  for  a  speci- 
fied time  in  emergencies.  The  emergency  for  which  this  organ- 
ization was  created  will  have  ceased  to  exist  when  the  Peace 
Treaty  is  signed. 

During  the  current  year  the  Clerical,  Mechanical  and  Inspec- 
tion Bureau  was  reorganized  and  placed  on  a  more  efficient  basis. 
Considerable  attention  has  been  given  to  the  revision  of  the 
system  for  sorting,  removing  and  filing  old  books  and  records  at 
Headquarters,  stations  and  bureaus,  and  a  close  check  and  fol- 
low-up system  has  been  installed  to  prevent  the  waste  of  gasoline, 
oil,  and  other  supplies. 

Special  attention  has  been  given  to  the  protection  of  soldiers 
and  sailors,  and  officers  and  members  of  this  department  have 
at  all  times  co-operated  and  worked  in  harmony  with  the  Govern- 
ment officials.  This  department  has  been  of  great  service  in 
aiding  the  Government  in  preventing  the  sale  of  liquor  to  sol- 
diers and  sailors  and  in  protecting  them  against  the  danger  of 
contracting  venereal  diseases. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  258  members  of  this  depart- 
ment on  military  furlough.  A  large  number  of  these  men  are  still 
overseas.  However,  it  is  probable  that  the  police  officers  who 
are  still  in  service  in  this  country  will  be  returned  to  the  depart- 
ment shortly,  thus  increasing  the  efficiency  of  the  department. 

Within  the  past  two  weeks  two  new  police  districts  have  been 
created,  and  a  captain  placed  in  charge  of  each.  This  will  tend 
to  further  police  efficiency. 

The  accompanying  charts  show  the  increases  and  decreases 
in  the  number  of  criminal  complaints  received  since  1905.  As 
you  will  note  there  were  less  criminal  complaints  received  during 
the  past  eleven  months  than  there  has  been  during  any  year 
since  1905. 

The  department  should  be  very  materially  increased  from  a 
numerical  standpoint.    There  has  been  no  substantial  increase  in 


24 


Department  of  Police 


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Department  of  Police  25 

the  number  of  men  in  the  department  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
department  has  made  great  strides  in  coping  with  crime  and 
criminals  during  the  past  few  years,  as  this  report  shows,  and 
one  can  only  imagine  how  much  more  effectively  the  department 
would  be  with  the  proper  number  of  police  officers. 

Herman  F.  Schuettler,  General  Superintendent  of  Police  of 
the  City  of  Chicago  since  January  ii,  1917,  passsed  away  on 
August  22,  1918.  No  words  are  necessary  to  eulogize  him.  The 
citizens  of  Chicago  and  of  the  entire  country  knew  his  worth 
both  in  his  individual  and  official  capacities. 

Police  Department  Divorced  from  Politics 

The  appointment  of  Chief  of  Police  Schuettler  marked  the 
complete  divorce  of  the  department  from  politics,  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  the  city. 

The  following  letter  to  the  late  chief,  sent  him  at  the  time 
of  his  first  appointment,  indicates  the  position  of  the  present 
administration  with  regard  to  this  perplexing  problem,  with  which 
every  big  city  is  confronted : 

Herman  F.  Schuetti^er, 

Chicago. 
Dear  Sir : 

"I  shall  submit  your  formal  appointment  as  General  Superintendent 
at  the  meeting  of  the  City  Council,  to-morrow,  Thursday,  January  11, 
1917,  to  fill  out  the  present  unexpired  term  which  runs  until  the  first 
Monday  in  May,  1917,  and  you  will  assume  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment. 

"Your  authority  over  the  Department  is  absolute  and  complete 
and  there  are  no  curbs,  limitations  or  restrictions,  except  as  imposed 
by  law,  upon  your  power  or  purpose  to  administer  impartially  the 
police  system  of  this  City  to  the  best  of  your  ability  and  for  the 
lawful  protection  of  the  people.  No  person  is  authorized  to  come 
to  you,  as  representing-  me,  to  ask  for  any  prestige  or  favor  from  the 
Police  Department,  nor  shall  I  grant  any  myself.  No  influence  need 
guide  you  except  the  sacred  influence  of  duty.  If  it  does,  you  alone 
will  be  to  blame. 

"I  desire  to  call  your  particular  attention  to  my  message  to  the 
City  Council  of  October  4,  1915  (Council  Proceedings,  Page  1436)  ; 
also  my  messages  of  July  10,  1916  (Council  Proceedings,  Page  1244) 
and  October  2,  1916  (Council  Proceedings,  Page  1507),  bearing  upon 
the  enforcement  of  the  statute  requiring  saloons  to  close  on  Sundays, 
and  the  responsibility  of  commanding  police  officers  in  connection 
therewith.  I  shall  expect  you  to  rigidly  comply  and  compel  the  obedi- 
ence of  every  officer  with  the  instructions  contained  in  these  mes- 
sages. 

"You  are  hereby  ordered  and  directed  strictly  to  enforce  all  the 
laws  of  the  State  and  ordinances  of  the  City  which  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  Police  Department  to  enforce.     You  are  further  ordered  and  di- 


26  Department  of  Police 


rected  to  see  that  every  subordinate  commander,  sergeant  and  patrol- 
man performs  his  full  duty.  Clean  out  immediately  the  corruption 
in  all  ranks  of  the  Department.  In  so  doing,  act  according  to  your 
mature  judgment,  based  upon  your  years  of  training  in  police  work 
and  knowledge  of  the  honesty  and  capabilities  of  the  men  comprising 
the  force  under  your  command. 

"All  other  Departments  whose  work  is  related  in  any  manner  to 
the  police,  ai'e  hereby  directed  to  assist  you  in  every  way  possible. 
I  ti*ust  you  will  have  the  aid  of  the  City  Council.  I  beseech  for  you 
the  co-operation  of  the  courts,  the  help  of  the  State's  Attorney  and 
the  encouragement  of  the  press  and  public  in  your  endeavor  to  meet 
the  important  responsibility  resting  upon  you. 

"Assuring  you  of  all  needed  executive  support  for  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  your  duty,  I  remain, 

"Yours  very  truly, 
"WILLIAM  HALE  THOMPSON,  Mayor." 

Col.  John  J.  Garrity,  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  Chief  Schuettler,  was  furnished  a  copy  of  the  above 
letter  and  is  determined  to  carry  out  the  purpose  of  the  admin- 
istration to  keep  the  Police  Department  free  from  political  con- 
trol. 


T^  HIS  department 
tain  its  place  as 
fighting  organization 
disastrous  conflagra- 
becoming  less  and 
reduction  in  the  num- 
property  loss  entailed 
decrease  from  year 
submitted  illustrates 
erty  loss  from  fire 
though   the   curve 


FIRE  DEPARTMENT 

Thos.  O'Connor,  Fire  Marshal 

continues     to     main- 
the  most  efficient  fire 


in  the  country.  The 
tions  of  the  past  are 
less  frequent.  The 
ber  of  fires  and  in  the 
shows  a  continuous 
to  year.  The  chart 
the  decrease  in  prop- 
since  1912,  and  al- 
shows     irregularities 


that  are  to  be  expected  the  general  decline  is  apparent. 

In  the  past  four  years  the  Fire  Department  has  undergone 
important  changes  with  reference  to  its  general  operation  and 


FIBt  DEPAR-TliENT  °"-  CITY-  CHICAGO 
CHABT  anOWING  FIPE  L055E5  1912-01918 


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'1918  FIRE   LOSSES  5A5ED  ON  MATI5TIC5    OF   FIRST  ©Mo.l/i  YEAR. 


Decrease,  1912  to  1918. 

the  working  hours  of  the  men.  On  April  I,  1917,  a  change  was 
made  in  the  operation  of  the  department  under  an  ordinance 
which  divided  the  force  into  two  divisions.     This  is  generally 

27 


28  Fire  Department 


spoken  of  as  the  Double  Platoon  System.  No  additional  men 
were  added  to  the  department  by  reason  of  this  change.  Consid- 
erable adjustment  was,  therefore,  necessary  in  order  to  bring 
about  the  highest  efficiency.  No  additions  to  the  appropriation 
were  made  other  than  salary  increases  which  took  effect  in  1918 
for  all  members  of  the  department  below  the  rating  of  Battalion 
Marshal.  The  following  table  is  a  comparison  of  the  number  of 
firemen  in  service  from  1912  to  1918  inclusive : 

1912  the   fire   fighting  force   consisted   of 1,855  men 

1913  the  fire   fighting  force  consisted   of 1,880  men 

1914  the   fire  fighting  force   consisted   of 1,903  men 

1915  the   fire    fighting  force   consisted   of 1,927  men 

1916  the   fire   fighting   force   consisted   of 1,974  men 

1917  the   fire   fighting  force   consisted  of 1,968  men 

1918  the   fire   fighting  force  consisted   of 1,931  men 

You  will  note  that  the  additions  to  the  force  between  19 12 

and  1918  only  shows  an  increase  of  76  men,  but  as  five  additional 
companies  with  twelve  men  to  each  company  were  added  during 
this  period  leaving  only  sixteen  men  who  have  actually  been 
added  to  the  service  outside  of  the  extensions  mentioned. 

The  program  arranged  for  extensions  of  the  department  is 
now  completed  in  so  far  as  new  buildings  are  concerned,  and 
between  this  date  and  March  i,  19 19,  there  will  be  added  to  the 
service  six  additional  fire  companies  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 
By  July  I,  1919)  there  will  be  further  additions  made,  known  as 
squad  wagons,  seven  in  number.  The  equipment  of  these  squad 
wagons  consists  of  fourteen  men  to  each  company,  who  will  be 
used  as  additional  firemen  only.  With  this  program  completed 
the  department  will  be  at  a  very  high  standard,  in  keeping  with 
the  growth  of  the  city  for  the  next  five  years. 

It  is  part  of  the  program  to  completely  motorize  the  equip- 
ment within  the  period  of  the  next  eight  years,  if  the  necessary 
financial  relief  is  granted  by  the  State  Legislature.  The  expense 
of  changing  to  motor  apparatus  is  to  be  spread  over  a  sufficient 
period  of  time  to  allow  the  department  to  make  further  studies 
for  the  best  interest  of  the  service. 

The  following  table  shows  the  appropriations  allowed  the 
department  for  the  years  1916,  1917  and  1918,  together  with  the 
amount  estimated  for  the  year  1919: 

Appropriation  1916    $3,444,970.40 

Appropriation  1917    3,885,147.25 

Appropriation  1918    3,503,937.90 

Appropriation  1919    (Estimated)     4,101,186.96 


Fire  Department 


29 


AUTO  PUMPING  ENGINE 

Averages  750  gallons  per  minute.  This  style  of  fire  equipment  replaces  horse- 
drawn  apparatus.  It  is  so  designed  that  the  hose  wagon  and  pump  are  combined 
in  the  same  apparatus,  which  eliminates  one  piece  of  apparatus  in  the  company 
where  it  is  installed.  It  is  of  the  latest  design  and  the  records  show  that  the  men 
are  able  to  connect  to  hydrant,  stretch  300  feet  of  hose,  and  deliver  water  in  less 
than  36  seconds. 


MOTOR  SQUAD  WAGON 

Used  for  all  emergency  services  in  the  saving  of  life  and  property.  Responds 
to  all  fires  with  all  regular  fire  equipment.  Carries  pulmotor,  acetylene  cutting 
device  and  all  heavy  tools  for  extricating  persons  in  a  dangerous  position,  at  large 
fires  and  railroad  accidents,  etc.  It  is  considered  by  the  Department  as  one  of  the 
important  advances  of  increased   efficiency. 


30  Fire  Department 


The  appropriation  estimated  for  1919  is  an  increase  of  about 
$600,000.00  above  the  year  1918.  This  is  occasioned  by  the 
desirabiHty  of  completing  the  program  outHned  at  the  earhest 
possible  date.  Not  all  of  this  amount,  however,  is  for  new 
equipment,  as  the  operating  expenses  of  the  department  have 
increased  materially  in  the  last  few  years. 

By  July  I,  1919,  the  department  expects  to  add  as  extensions 
to  the  department  19  new  fire  companies.  This  will  be  the  great- 
est extension  made  in  the  service  in  the  past  twenty-five  years. 

BUREAU  OF  FIRE  PREVENTION  AND  PUBLIC 

SAFETY 

The  object  of  the  Bureau  is  to  eliminate  and  forestall  haz- 
ardous and  fire-breeding  conditions  within  the  City  of  Chicago 
and  to  make  fire  protection,  both  public  and  private,  more  effi- 
cient. 

The  public  benefits  directly  from  the  efforts  of  the  Bureau. 
The  possibility  of  any  holocaust  such  as  this  city  has  experi- 
enced in  the  past  has  been  practically  eliminated.  Loss  of  life 
cannot  be  computed  in  dollars  and  cents. 

As  to  property  losses,  the  fire  losses  have  been  reduced  from 
$6,650,000.00  per  annum  to  $4,900,000.00  per  annum  or  from 
$3.04  per  capita  to  $1.87  per  capita  as  against  the  present  per 
capita  of  $2.50  for  the  whole  United  States. 

At  the  request  of  the  Federal  authorities,  the  Bureau  has 
co-operated  with  the  Ordnance  Department,  Quartermaster's 
Corps,  the  War  Industries  Board,  Food  Administration,  Fuel 
Administration,  Department  of  Justice  and  Intelligence  Division. 
Inspections  were  made  of  all  grain  elevators,  food  storage  houses, 
munition  plants,  plants  doing  Government  contracts  and  ship 
building  yards.  The  Federal  Government  also  requested  that 
the  Bureau  enforce  the  new  Federal  Explosive  Act  and  one 
employee  was  appointed  as  a  federal  agent  or  licensor. 

The  Bureau  is  keeping  very  comprehensive,  complete  and 
detailed  statistics  of  fires  since  January  i,  1916.  Figure  i  shows 
the  number  of  fires  each  month  for  the  years  1916  and  1917; 
the  reduction  in  the  number  of  fires  can  be  readily  seen. 

Figure  2  shows  the  number  of  fires  for  each  two-hour  period 
during  the  day. 

Figure  3  shows  the  number  of  fires  in  each  Battalion  district, 
the  reduction  in  number  being  very  evident. 


Fire  Department 


31 


BUREAU  OF  FIRE  PREVE/STIO/H  &•  PUBLIC  SAFETV 

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32  Fire  Department 


A  fair  idea  of  the  work  performed  by  the  Bureau  may  be 
obtained  from  the  following  figures,  which  are  the  average  per 
year  for  the  past  three  and  one-half  years : 

Number  of  inspections 128,001 

New   inspections    6,092 

Reinspections     35,628 

Calls   to    advise    regarding   improvements 3,054 

Theatre   inspections    71,825 

Corrections  of  defective  conditions 31,281 

Applications  for  licenses 1,896 

Plans   examined    2,215 

Suits    filed    811 

Fines  imposed   66 


DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH 

Dr.  John  Dill  Robertson,  Health  Commissioner 

T^  H  E    Department  >g^Bfeav  of  Health  of  any  city, 

between  the  citizen  of  /j^H^^^T^  ^^^^^  community  and 
those   unseen    foes  /    H^B%  1^1^   which  produce  dis- 

State  Legislature  nee-  ^^^^^  e  s  s  a  r  y  amendments 

and  new  laws,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  carry  on  a  campaign  of 
publicity  and  education  so  that  the  citizens  of  the  community 
may  not  only  become  informed  on  general  sanitation  but  may 
have  a  knowledge  of  hygiene  necessary  for  their  protection  in 
the  home. 

It  has  been  said  that  sixty  per  cent,  of  the  functions  of  a 
department  of  health  are  publicity  and  education  and  forty  per 
cent,  the  enforcement  of  health  laws. 

It  has  long  been  recognized  that  the  Health  Department  of 
the  City  of  Chicago  is  one  of  the  most  progressive,  best  organized, 
and  best  equipped  of  any  in  the  United  States. 

Not  only  is  this  true  of  the  Department  of  Health,  but  the 
citizens  generally  respond  to  the  requests  of  the  Department 
better  than  in  any  other  community  in  the  United  States.  This 
is  evidenced  by  every  epidemic  which  has  occurred  in  this  com- 
munity. Everybody  gets  together  and  helps.  The  results  of 
this  team  play  for  the  last  dozen  years  are  apparent  in  the  gradual 
decrease  in  the  death  rates  for  the  three  four-year  periods,  as 
shown  by  the  following  chart. 

Someone  has  said  that  the  index  of  the  civic  conscience  of 
any  community  is  the  amount  of  typhoid  fever  in  that  community. 
This  being  true,  Chicago's  civic  conscience  is  at  a  higher  point 
than  that  of  any  other  city  of  the  first  class  in  America,  for  her 
typhoid  death  record  is  the  best  of  all.    The  following  chart  tells 

33 


34 


Department  of  Health 


the  story  of  Chicago's  fight,  not  only  for  sanitation  and  proper 
drainage,  but  for  a  clean  milk  supply. 

Clean  Water  and  Milk  Supply 

Not  only  is  typhoid  fever  the  index  of  the  civic  conscience, 
but  it  is  the  index  of  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  city.  No  city 
could  have  a  typhoid  record  like  that  attained  by  Chicago  unless 
the  water  and  milk  were  carefully  guarded  day  by  day.  Not 
only  must  the  water  and  milk  be  carefully  guarded,  but  in  the 
inspection  of  places  where  food  is  prepared  a  constant  cam- 
paign against  bad  plumbing  must  be  maintained. 


TYPHOID   FEVER.    DEATM5  IN    CHICAGO 
COMPARED    WITH    OTHER   CITIES 

1913  TO    1918   (/NCLU5IVE- 

1913       1 

1  914 

1915 

1  916 

1  917 

1  9ia 

1 

1         Ifi^ 

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E^i II II II II II nil  II  iiiiii in ini II iHHi II nni  in 

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For  the  last  two  years  Chicago  has  had  fewer  deaths  per  capita  from  typhoid 
fever  than  any  other  large  city  in  America.  Her  record  for  1917-1918  was  lower 
than  that  for  London,  England. 


Department  of  Health 


35 


C0/STB0Lo^TYPA10ID  FEVEI2 
|«  CHICAGO  1871-1916 

irt'Qin  omoiooin  owQinoioomoinoioom  oinoinoio  omoino  m 

—    -(^iN^OtO•<J-^lnln<$^9SN^O<Off>(BOO--NNC0^1<^-■4■lnln^9^^^^- 
DEATHS      PEB    IQOCXO  fPOPULATION 

1  8TI 
1  872 
1  873 
1  874- 
1  675 
1  676 
1  877 
1  67a 
18  79 

1  eao 

1  881 
1  862 
1  883 
1  884- 
1  885 
1666 
1867 
1888 
1  B89 
1  890 
1  89  1 
1  892 
1893 
1  691- 
1695 
1696 
1  897 
1  896 
1  899 
1  900 
I90I 
1902 
1  903 
I904 
1  905 
190G 
I90T 
1  908 
1  909 
1  9IO 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1  914- 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1916 

^ 

1     1     1     1     1          1     1     1     1     1     1     1 

■ 

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Chart    shows    reduction  in   typhoid   fever   to   the   lowest   point   reached   by   any 
large    city  in    the    world. 


36 


Department  of  Health 


Scarlet  Fever 

The  average  number  of  deaths  from  scarlet  fever  during 
the  last  four  years  has  been  226  deaths  per  year.  The  year  that 
has  just  closed  shows  but  46  deaths.  The  four  years,  191 1  to  1914 
inclusive,  show  an  average  yearly  death  rate  of  553  per  year. 
Comparing  the  two  periods  of  191 1  to  1914  inclusive  and  1915 
to  19 18  inclusive,  shows  there  has  been  a  saving  of  1205  lives 
from  scarlet  fever,  or  a  57  per  cent  reduction. 


DIPHTHERIA    £/    SCARLET    FEVER.  DEATHS 
FOR.  LAST  THREE    FOUR-YEAR   PERIODS 

CHICAGO,    l907-rol9IS 

40 
38 
56 
34 

i      ^° 
J     £8 

D.      26 

2     Z4 

0     Z2 

§    zo 

0       16 
0!       16 

12 
?       10 

4 
Z 
0 

isor            I9IO 

1911                       1914- 

1Q15                      1918 

KEY: 

SCARLET   FEVER. 

Scarlet    fever    has    been    lower    during    the    last    four    years    than    ever    before. 
Diphtheria  has  been  materially  reduced   over   1911   to   1915. 


Department  of  Health 


37 


the  story  of  Chicago's  fight,  not  only  for  sanitation  and  proper 
drainage,  but  for  a  clean  water  and  milk  supply. 

Infantile  Paralysis 
From  January  i,  1915,  to  December  i,  1918,  942  cases  of 
infantile  paralysis  were  reported  to  the  Department  of  Health. 
The  following  chart  is  a  comparison  of  the  cases  and  deaths 
occurring  in  Chicago  during  this  period  as  compared  with  the 
City  of  New  York.  The  universal  hospitalization  of  these  cases 
in  Chicago,  the  publicity  concerning  the  disease,  and  the  medical 
service  instituted  by  the  Department  of  Health  undoubtedly  are 
the  agencies  responsible  for  the  results  accomplished. 


DEATHS     FROM 
INFANTILE    PARALY5I5 

AVERAGE   FOR   \9\<E>-\9\1  O  1916 


While  New  York  and  other  large  cities  of  America  were  experiencing  terrible 
epidemics  of  this  dreadful  disease  of  childhood,  Chicago  escaped  with  comparatively 
few  cases. 


38 


Department  of  Health 


Influenza 

The  beginning  of  the  influenza  epidemic  in  Chicago  was 
about  September  19,  1918.  The  invasion  was  quite  rapid,  and  in 
the  beginning  the  disease  was  most  prevalent  in  the  north  divi- 
sion of  the  city  nearest  the  source  of  infection,  which  was  in  the 
main  from  the  Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  Camp. 

The  disease  spread  rapidly  and  took  on  epidemic  proportions, 
reaching  the  high  point  October  17,  when  380  death  certificates 


INFLUENZA  ^PMEUMONIA 

JHOh/IfiCi    7Hf  3n/ILL    /A/Cet/\.5£    in  CH/CACO  A3 
CO/^P/l££D  /V/T/y  FOUe    OTH£l?  LAI2GE     C/r/^3 


^^ 


^ 


22^ 


^ 


PHILADELPHIA- dALTinOQE     ■    B05TOH        -  NtW  YOUK 


CHICAGO 


were  issued  by  this  Department.  The  decline  was  equally  as 
rapid  as  had  been  the  invasion.  It  was  below  400  November  i 
and  below  the  200  mark  November  3  and  4. 

Previous  to  September  19,  1918,  only  an  occasional  case  of 
influenza  was  present  and  the  disease  was  not  reportable  until 
made  so  September  16,  1918. 

From  September  19,  1918,  to  December  i,  1918,  39,470  cases 
of  influenza  were  reported  to  the  Department  of  Health  as 
against  no  cases  in  the  same  period  of  1917,  when  reporting  this 
disease  was  not  required.    The  number  of  deaths  recorded  from 


Department  of  Health  39 

influenza  during  the  first  eleven  months  of  1918  in  Chicago  was 
5,773,  and  for  the  corresponding  period  in  1917,  183. 

For  the  same  eleven  months'  period  of  1918,  20,301  cases  of 
pneumonia  were  reported  with  6,324  deaths  recorded.  For  the 
corresponding  period  in  1917,  9,052  cases  of  pneumonia  were 
reported  and  the  deaths  numbered  4,703. 

United  States  Census  Bureau  figures  show  increased  death 
rates  in  large  cities  of  America  on  account  of  influenza. 

Chicago  and  Cleveland  have  smallest  increase.  Washington, 
San  Francisco,  Pittsburgh,  Philadelphia,  New  Orleans,  Nash- 
ville, Cambridge,  Buffalo  and  Boston  suffered  three  times  as 
greatly  as  Chicago. 

The  tabulated  figures  per  1,000  follow: 

Inc.  per 

1918  1917  1,000 

Chicago    17.1  14.9  2.2 

Albany    22.7  18.4  4.3 

Boston    22.0  16.4  5.6 

Buffalo     21.2  16.4  5.8 

Cambridge     20.3  14.5  5.8 

Cincinnati    20.6  16.5  4.1 

Cleveland    16.0  13.9  2.1 

Dayton    19.6  15.9  3.7 

Los  Angeles   16.4  12.5  3.9 

Louisville    21.0  16.3  4.7 

Nashville     26.4  16.5  9.9 

New  Orleans    25.9  19.9  6.0 

New  York 18.8  15.2  3.6 

Oakland    14.8  10.6  4.2 

Philadelphia   24.2  17.1  7.1 

Pittsburgh    25.4  18.2  7.2 

Providence    19.6  15.4  3.2 

Richmond    23.6  18.5  5.1 

San  Francisco   20.5  15.0  5.5 

Washington    23.6  16.8  6.8 

Venereal  Diseases 

Venereal  diseases,  consumption,  and  pneumonia  are  man's 
worst  enemies,  and  they  cause  about  an  equal  number  of  deaths 
each  year. 

For  many  years  venereal  diseases  have  been  considered  as 
unmentionable  diseases,  but  we  are  glad  to  note  that  public  senti- 
ment has  finally  reached  the  point  where  even  the  daily  press  will 
take  cognizance  of  them.  A  disease  which  fills  our  surgical 
hospitals;  which  accounts  for  the  presence  of  a  large  number 
of  the  inmates  of  our  insane  asylums;  which  produces  blindness 
in  children,  and  which  causes  untold  misery  to  humanity  must  be 


40  Department  of  Health 

openly  and  freely  discussed  if  the  people  are  ever  to  eliminate  it 
from  their  midst. 

The  Department  of  Health  is  an  agency  for  eliminating 
and  preventing  contagious  diseases  from  this  community.  In 
1916  the  Commissioner  of  Health  presented  to  the  Morals 
Commission  a  venereal  disease  ordinance  which  was  recom- 
mended by  them  to  the  Health  Committee,  and  which  finally, 
after  modifications  and  amendments,  became  an  Ordinance.  The 
operation  of  this  ordinance  has  resulted  in  the  establishment 
of  an  evening  venereal  disease  clinic  by  the  city  at  the  Iroquois 
Memorial  Hospital,  the  opening  of  the  old  Contagious  Disease 
Hospital  on  Lawndale  Avenue  as  a  refuge  and  place  of  treat- 
ment for  diseased  women,  the  requiring  of  physicians  to  report 
their  cases  to  the  Department  of  Health,  and,  finally,  in  a  reduc- 
tion of  venereal  diseases  in  the  City  of  Chicago  to  the  point  that, 
in  November,  of  460  men  who  were  arrested  and  taken  to  the 
House  of  Correction  for  various  offenses,  only  6  per  cent  had 
venereal  diseases,  and  of  60  women,  in  the  month  of  November, 
only  II  per  cent  had  venereal  diseases.  Compare  this  with  the 
record  of  one  of  the  eastern  cities  during  the  summer  months, 
where  65  per  cent  of  the  women  and  35  per  cent  of  the  men 
sentenced  to  the  workhouse  were  infected. 

Among  large  numbers  of  women  who  have  been  brought  to 
the  Morals  Court  and  from  there  to  the  Iroquois  Hospital  for 
examination,  the  percentage  of  diseased  women  has  been  reduced 
from  week  to  week,  until,  at  the  present  time,  a  very  small  per- 
centage of  them  is  suffering  with  venereal  diseases. 

All  of  which  demonstrates  that  venereal  diseases  can  be 
brought  under  control  in  the  city,  and  can  be  stamped  out  more 
readily  than  can  tuberculosis. 

%  Street  Gar  Ventilation 

The  chart  on  the  opposite  page  tells  the  story  of  the  improve- 
ment made  in  the  ventilation  of  the  Chicago  Surface  L,ines  cars. 

This  improvement  was  brought  about  by  convincing  the  trac- 
tion lines  that  it  was  to  the  interest  of  all  concerned  to  improve 
the  ventilation  of  the  2,200  street  cars  that  were  without  adequate 
equipment.  A  natural  ventilation  plan  was  worked  out  which 
consists  of  air  intakes  and  exhaust  ventilators.     The  intakes,  at 


Department  of  Health 


41 


DEPA^TME/1T-hE/\LTfi  ChlCAGO 

A  GRAPHIC  HISTORY  o-OTPEET  CAB 
VEMTILATIOfH  roH  THE.  PA!)T  8YEAR5  . 


VEMTILATED 
CAC5 


UMVEMTILATED 
CAR5 


WRlTTtfS 
COMPLAIHT!) 


AO/V/f 


AO/V/f 


l/f/^T/L/lTtD  CAI13M5 /REFERENCE  TO  EQUIPMENT.   ALL  JUCH  C/IK5 
ARE  P/20I//DED  Mm  l/EriTILAT/NC  DEI/LCE3 
TE/^TIA/ILL  COMPLY  i^lTti  ORDINAHCE  REQU//^- 
ME/iT3  IF  OPEMTED 

UMHTILAUO  CMS  jZEFEP   to  caq5  /for  JO  equippeu 
miTT£H  COJIPUIHTS  ^^p£R-  tolettep5  of  pwte5T 

PECEIVED   6Y  THE  DEPAPTMENT  COTICEPMhG 
POOR  l/E/iTlLATIOn.  LETTEeJ  COA/CEPA/ItiG 
LACK  OF  /IE AT    OP  0VE2  CQOI^DING  NOT 
INCLUDED 


The    areas   of   the    squares    show    relative  number  of  ventilated  and  unventilated 
cars,    etc.,    by    years. 


42  Department  of  Health 

either  end  of  the  car,  allow  a  constant  amount  of  fresh  cool  air  to 
enter  irrespective  of  car  speed  and  exhaust  ventilators  remove 
the  warm  foul  air. 

Many  people  think  that  the  old  windows  above  should  be 
opened,  and  do  not  understand  that  the  air  is  poured  in  from 
the  intake  which  is  in  the  front  of  the  car.  When  this  ventilation 
system  was  put  into  the  cars  it  was  necessary  to  install  two  extra 
radiators  in  each  car,  and  the  Department  of  Health  also  induced 
the  companies  to  put  a  temperature  controlling  device  in  each  car 
that  automatically  maintains  a  constant  temperature  of  55  degrees. 
These  cars  are  now  adequately  ventilated  for  sixty  passengers. 

It  is  evident  that  no  ventilation  device  could  be  designed 
which  would  give  adequate  ventilation  when  more  than  sixty 
people  are  packed  into  a  car.  Under  such  circumstances  the  only 
safe  thing  to  do  is  to  open  both  front  and  rear  doors.  The  chief 
problem  is  to  relieve  the  congestion  on  the  cars. 

The  cost  of  installing  this  ventilation  system  in  the  surface 
cars  was  approximately  $250,000.00. 


MUNICIPAL  TUBERCULOSIS  SANITARIUM 


Board  of  Directors 

DR.   JOHN    Dili    ROBEETSON,    President 

ME.   F.  BOWDEN  DeFOEEST,    Secretary  DE.  WM.  M.   HAESHA 

T^HE  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  was  made  possible 
by  the  passage  of  the  Glackin  law,  which  provided  that  on 
referendum  vote  municipalities  might  levy  a  tax  of  not  to  exceed 
one  mill  for  the  maintenance  of  an  institution  for  the  prevention 
and  treatment  of  tuberculosis. 

In  1909  the  people  of  the  City  of  Chicago  voted  to  take 
advantage  of  the  provisions  of  this  law,  whereupon  164  acres  of 
land  were  purchased  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city  of 
Chicago,  at  Bryn  Mawr  and  Crawford  Avenues. 

Administration,  infirmary  and  cottage  buildings  were  soon 
erected. 

In  191 5  when  my  administration  assumed  charge,  the  capac- 
ity of  the  institution  was  650  beds,  and  during  the  year  1915  the 
institution  housed  on  an  average  of  590  patients  at  a  per  capita 
cost  of  $11.55.  -^t  the  present  time  the  institution  has  950  pa- 
tients, which  have  been  provided  for  without  the  erection  of 
new  buildings  but  by  alterations  of  the  buildings  already  erected, 
the  details  of  which  are  described  elsewhere.  These  950  patients 
are  being  cared  for  at  a  per  capita  cost  of  approximately  $10.00. 

43 


44  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium 

The  fund  provided  by  tax  levy  each  year  is  approximately 
one  million  dollars.  About  one-half  of  this  is  expended  in  the 
institution  at  Crawford  and  Bryn  Mawr  Avenue;  the  balance 
is  used  for  new  buildings  and  to  conduct  eight  dispensaries  in 
different  parts  of  the  city,  located  as  follows : 

North  Side 

Sedgwick  Street 1367  Sedgwick  St. 

Northwest 1360  N.  Ashland  Ave. 

West  Side 

Ashland  Avenue 10  S.  Ashland  Ave. 

Racine  Avenue 1215  S.  Racine  Ave. 

South  Side 

South  Side 2950  Calumet  Ave. 

Wabash  Avenue 4746  Wabash  Ave. 

Grand  Crossing 1000-2  E.  Seventy-fifth  St. 

Stock  Yards 738  W.  Forty-seventh  St. 

At  the  close  of  1915  these  dispensaries  had  9,218  patients 
under  treatment ;  in  1918,  24,616  patients  were  treated. 

In  1916  and  1917,  165,700  persons  were  examined  in  their 
homes,  and  over  14,000  of  these  were  found  to  be  tuberculous. 
The  benefits  of  the  dispensaries  were  thus  spread  out  so  that  the 
cost  per  capita  of  caring  for  patients  in  the  field  has  been  stead- 
ily reduced,  notwithstanding  the  increased  cost  of  labor  and  all 
commodities,  from  $6.80  in  1915  to  $2.20  in  1916,  1917,  1918. 

Early  in  1917  the  dispensaries,  which  had  been  operating  on 
a  part-time  basis  of  67  clinic  hours  per  week,  were  put  upon  a 
full-time  basis,  and  now  conduct  416  clinic  hours  per  week.  The 
physicians  who  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  dispensaries  were 
secured  through  a  rigid  Civil  Service  Examination,  the  questions 
for  which  were  prepared  and  the  papers  marked  by  a  number  of 
prominent  Chicago  physicians.  After  the  full-time  dispensary 
plan  was  well  under  way,  evening  clinics  on  Tuesdays  and  Fri- 
days were  instituted  at  each  dispensary. 

In  developing  the  work  of  caring  for  the  tuberculous  in  Chi- 
cago, the  Board  of  Directors  felt  the  need  of  quarantine  and 
hospitalization  of  the  careless  or  ignorant  open  cases  which  were 
a  menace  to  others.  A  plan  was  therefore  developed  whereby 
the  Sanitarium  should  co-operate  with  the  Department  of  Health 
by  assigning  a  portion  of  its  nursing  force  to  the  work  of  quar- 


46 


Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium 


/1U/NICIPAL  TU5EI2CUL05I 

!)  5A-^<ITA2iUn 

1915                            1916 

1917                           1918 

1.900                                              T 

1^00 

1,700 

"■" 

),600                                             I 

,— ' 

1,500 

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1,400                                       «^c:^'^°^ 

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r^^^\ 

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o     400 

500 

200 

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l=llllill5ISIsl««3i?i5: 

Municipml  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  47 

antine.  In  co-operation  with  the  Department  of  Health,  the  city 
was  divided  into  74  quarantine  districts,  and  an  officer  assigned 
to  each  district,  each  officer  having  the  poHce  power  vested  in 
quarantine  officers.  A  plan  was  inaugurated  of  quarantining  and 
hospitalizing  every  open  case  of  tuberculosis  in  Chicago  which 
did  not  comply  with  the  rules  laid  down  by  the  Department  of 
Health  for  the  control  of  tuberculosis. 

One  of  the  principal  accomplishments  of  the  Municipal 
Tuberculosis  Sanitariumi  has  been  the  institution  and  completion 
of  the  most  extensive  survey  for  tuberculosis  ever  made  anywhere 
in  the  world.  The  territory  covered  included  eight  square  miles 
of  the  most  congested  district  of  the  city,  between  North  Avenue 
on  the  north,  22nd  Street  on  the  south,  Ashland  Avenue  on  the 
west,  and  State  Street  on  the  east.  The  population  of  this  dis- 
trict is  estimated  at  371,000,  of  which  165,700  were  examined. 
Of  this  number  14,282,  or  8.64  per  cent,~were  found  to  be  tuber- 
culous. This  was  a  house-to-house  survey  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  tuberculosis.  Only  4  per  cent,  of  this  number  had  been 
previously  reported.  This  survey  demonstrated  the  need  of  new 
rules  requiring  the  reporting  of  suspect  cases,  the  great  need  of 
regular  medical  examinations  of  all  people,  and  the  need  of 
requiring  health  certificates  by  all  employers  of  labor. 

Heretofore  statistics  have  not  been  available  to  show  the  rela- 
tion of  housing  to  tuberculosis,  although  much  of  our  literature 
on  both  subjects  charge  bad  housing  as  a  cause  of  the  disease. 
In  an  effort  to  prove  or  disprove  previous  statements,  this  hous- 
ing survey  was  made.  Comparative  studies  of  the  relation  of 
tuberculosis  to  housing  in  its  various  aspects  of  light,  ventilation, 
crowding,  nationality,  adult  and  youthful  occupants,  etc.,  were 
made,  and  are  carefully  set  forth  in  the  annual  report  of  the 
Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  for  1917. 

A  Department  of  Publicity  and  Education  was  established, 
through  which  has  been  instituted  a  system  of  medical  reports  in 
each  dispensary  so  that  each  dispensary  submits  a  complete  daily 
report  covering  every  activity  of  the  clinic.  Terms  used  in  classi- 
fication of  diagnoses  have  been  made  uniform  and  a  general 
systematic  plan  of  operation  and  case  handling  has  been  insti- 
tuted in  all  dispensaries.  This  Department  publishes  a  monthly 
bulletin  of  16  pages  which  has  a  circulation  of  20,000  copies. 


48  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium 


In  connection  with  the  installation  of  the  full-time  dispensary 
statt,  a  Board  of  Svipcrvisors  was  appointed  for  the  purpose  of 
gi\ing"  close  supervision  to  the  work  of  the  new  staff,  making  the 
work  of  classification  of  diagnoses  and  method  of  handling  cases 
uniform  throughout  all  dispensaries.  Previous  to  this  time  each 
of  the  dispensaries  had  been  a  law  unto  itself,  each  head  physi- 
cian handling  this  work  entirely  independent  of  any  general 
supervision.  In  three  or  four  months  the  work  of  organization 
was  very  successfully  accomplished. 

A  Medical  Treatment  Board  was  appointed  to  standardize, 
simplify  and  render  general  uniformity  in  the  therapeutic  tFcat 
ment  of  dispensary  patients.     This  has  been  productive  of  econ 
omy  in  the  furnishing  of  drugs  and  also  of  a  wider  usefulness  of 
medicines,  and  has  caused  tlie  elimination  of  many  duplicates  of 
formulae. 

Rules  and  regulations  governing  the  activities  of  the  Sani 
tarium  and  its  employees  were  compiled  by  a  Rules  Committee 
The  magnitude  of  this  work  will  be  realized  when  it  is  stated 
that  no  rules  had  been  previovisly  formulated  for  governing  the 
large  number  of  employees  of  the  institution. 

The  Grand  Crossing,  Racine  Avenue  (formerly  Jewish  Aid), 
Sedgwick  Street  (formerly  Policlinic),  and  Ashland  Boulevard 
(formerly  Central  Free)  Dispensaries  were  moved  into  new  and 
better  quarters  and  a  new  dispensary  was  opened  at  4746  Wabash 
Avenue. 

The  following  activities  in  the  building  line  are  worthy  of 
note : 

1.  Alterations  in  the  infirmary,  whereby  130  beds  were 
added  to  the  capacity  of  the  institution,  bringing  the  capacity  to 
over  900  beds,  thus  making  it  one  of  the  largest  institutions  of 
the  kind  in  America.  This  was  done  at  a  cost  of  $78,642.60, 
without  increasing  the  overhead  expense  to  any  considerable 
extent.  The  cost  per  bed  was  $605.00.  French  windows  furnish 
egress  from  the  new  additions  directly  upon  a  broad  concrete 
areaway,  where  the  beds  are  pushed,  bringing  the  patients  out 
of  doors.  Beautiful  lavatories  and  bath  rooms  are  provided.  In 
fact,  the  new  space  is  the  very  best  in  the  entire  infirmary. 

2.  The  construction  of  large  sun  parlors  at  the  north  end 
of  the  Administration  Building,  which  provides  quarters  for  the 
General  Superintendent  and  Research   Director.     This  entailed 


Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  49 

an  expense  of  approximately  $4,000.00,  and  saved  the  expendi- 
ture of  $37,000.00  for  a  Superintendent's  residence,  as  originally 
planned  in  19 15. 

3.  The  enlargement  of  the  Staff  dining-room,  at  a  cost  of 
$2,450.00,  providing  seating  capacity  for  forty  people  instead  of 
twenty,  as  heretofore. 

4.  The  addition  of  a  large  porch  at  the  southwest  end  of  the 
women's  infirmary,  to  provide  sun  treatments  for  the  nursery 
children,  at  a  cost  of  $490.00. 

5.  The  building  of  a  new  bakery,  in  which  a  brick  oven, 
sanitary  and  modern  in  every  detail,  has  been  installed,  by  which 
the  daily  capacity  has  been  increased  from  270  loaves  of  bread 
and  15  dozen  rolls  to  350  loaves  of  bread  and  25  dozen  rolls. 
This  improvement  cost  $12,182.00. 

6.  An  addition  to  the  power  house,  more  than  doubling  its 
capacity,  thus  giving  sufficient  power  not  only  for  the  present 
buildings,  but  for  those  to  be  added  in  the  future.  In  the  power 
house  has  been  installed,  during  the  past  year,  additional  refrig- 
erating machinery,  a  steam  ash  conveying  system  which  elim- 
inates dust  and  dirt  from  the  boiler  room,  and  a  garbage  incin- 
erator, together  with  the  necessary  tunnels  for  carrying  piping, 
etc. 

7.  An  addition  to  the  laundry.  The  average  number  of 
pieces  now  handled  is  6,900  each  month,  and  its  capacity  is  still 
greater. 

8.  The  installation  of  a  new  8-inch  water  main,  which 
allows  the  City  water  pressure  to  be  used  the  greater  part  of  the 
time.  Only  in  the  summer  when  the  sprinkling  systems  are  used, 
and  in  very  cold  weather,  is  it  necessary  to  use  the  60,000  gallon 
reserve  tank. 

9.  The  equipment  of  a  carpenter  shop  in  the  infirmary,  in 
which  a  very  complete  woodworking  machine  costing  $530.00  has 
been  installed. 

10.  The  building  of  the  modern  animal  house,  at  a  cost  of 
$4,995.00,  for  the  breeding  and  care  of  guinea  pigs,  monkeys, 
mice,  rabbits,  etc.,  for  the  experimental  work  of  the  research 
laboratory. 

11.  The  building  of  two  large  chicken  houses,  each  260x20 
feet,  with  compartments  and  all  necessary  equipment.     A  feed 


50  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium 


house  with  grinding  and  chopping  machinery  was  built  for  stor- 
ing feed. 

12.  The  enlargement  of  the  barn  to  provide  facilities  for 
the  care  of  serum  horses,  and  for  a  horse  laboratory. 

13.  These  twelve  additions  were  erected  at  a  total  cost  of 
$243,216.85. 

Believing  that  a  series  of  medical  clinics  by  physicians  in  the 
work  might  serve  as  an  impetus  to  the  physicians  on  the  staff, 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Sanitarium  arranged  for  and  are 
conducting  such  a  series. 

Under  date  of  October  29,  1917,  the  following  letter  was 
received  from  Dr.  W.  S.  Miller,  Professor  of  Anatomy  at  the 
University  of  Wisconsin,  who  held  clinics  at  the  institution : 

"It  is  a  matter  of  satisfaction  to  know  that  the  doctors  were 
interested  in  the  lectures  given  them.  The  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  is  to  be  congratulated 
in  instituting  the  clinic.  It  has  set  an  example  that  other  insti- 
tutions could  follow  with  advantage.  I  know  of  no  other  place 
where  anything  similar  has  been  attempted.  Personally,  I  was 
greatly  pleased  with  the  interest  taken  in  what  I  consider  the 
fundamental  study  of  tuberculosis — the  'anatomy  of  the  lung.' " 

Another  clinic  of  interest  was  that  held  on  May  9,  1918,  by 
Professor  Emmel  of  the  Department  of  Anatomy  and  Professor 
Dreyer  of  the  Department  of  Physiology,  both  of  the  University 
of  Illinois  College  of  Medicine  and  Surgery.  Dr.  Emmel's  lec- 
ture dealt  with  the  anatomy  of  the  lung  and  was  extensively 
illustrated  by  charts.  Professor  Dreyer's  address  related  to  the 
physiology  of  the  lung  and  was  also  illustrated  by  blackboard 
drawings. 

Invitations  to  the  clinics  are  sent  to  the  members  of  the 
medical  profession  in  Chicago. 

Results  of  Treatment 

The  cure  of  a  case  of  tuberculosis  is  difficult  and  a  number 
of  years  are  necessary  to  make  a  distinct  dent  in  teh  mountain 
of  new  and  old  tuberculosis  cases  found  in  any  community.  The 
evidence  indicates  that  such  a  dent  has  been  made  in  the  occur- 
rence of  tuberculosis  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  This  is  deduced 
of  years  are  necessary  to  make  a  distinct  dent  in  the  mountain 
from  the  fact  that  in  1915  there  were  4,169  deaths  from  tuber- 


Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  51 

losis;  in  1916,  3,736  deaths;  in  1917,  3,787  deaths,  and,  in  the 
first  ten  months  of  1918,  3,254  deaths. 

Another  strong  indication  that  tuberculosis  is  being  gradually 
reduced  in  this  city  is  the  fact  that  our  dispensary  physicians 
report  that  at  the  present  time  there  are  only  630  known  open 
cases  in  their  homes  in  Chicago.  All  of  these  are  under  super- 
vision. The  policy  of  the  Sanitarium  has  been  to  hospitalize  all 
open  cases  of  tuberculosis,  and  where  an  open  case  is  permitted  to 
remain  at  home  he  must  prove  to  the  institution  that  he  is  not  in 
contact  with  anyone,  that  his  sputimi  is  destroyed,  and  that  he 
lives  under  the  hygienic  arrangements  laid  down  by  the  Sani- 
tarium and  the  Department  of  Health  of  the  city  of  Chicago. 

Prof.  C.  E.  A.  Winslow  of  Yale  University  states,  after 
reviewing  the  annual  report  for  19 17,  in  regard  to  the  present 
plan  of  the  Municipal  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium :  "I  do  not  know 
of  any  campaign  against  tuberculosis  which  has  been  so  admir- 
ably organized  as  that  of  the  Chicago  Sanitarium." 


CORPORATION  COUNSEL'S  OFFICE 

Samuel  A.  Ettelson,  Corporation  Counsel 

T^HE  existence  of  a  ^ ^->.  state   of   war   instead 

of  lessening  the  /  ^^^^^^\,  amount  of  work  done 
by  the  law  depart-  /  m^^^^^^^  \  nient  during  the  past 
year  materially  in-  /  »  ^m^  \  creased  the  same. 
Efficient   co-operation/  mJ  I        With    the    executive 

and    legislative  .-IBBi  branches   of   the    city 

government    made    it\  "^^ \^      /imperative   that  the 

diminished  force  of  \  ^^^B  jL  ^^^j  attorneys  and  assist- 
ants provided  for  the  ^^m^[  ^^KV  performance  of  the 
duties  of  the  law  de-  ^^j^^^^l^^  partment  should  dis- 
regard personal  con-  ^^^^^^  venience,  and 
required  tireless  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  citizens  of  the 
municipality.  The  magnitude  of  the  law  business  of  the  city 
cannot  easily  be  comprehended  by  the  average  citizen,  and  yet 
when  he  stops  to  consider  the  many  interests  hostile  to  the  wel- 
fare of  Chicago's  inhabitants  which  must  be  dealt  with  by  the  law 
department  he  begins  to  realize  the  task  of  the  city's  lawyers. 

The  city's  representatives  are  frequently  called  upon  to  pro- 
tect the  city  against  interests  represented  by  the  ablest  and  high- 
est paid  counsel  in  the  country,  not  only  in  the  courts  but  in  the 
committee  and  council  meetings  and  in  the  office  of  the  Corpora- 
tion Counsel.  Contracts,  leases,  bonds,  permits  and  ordinances 
must  be  carefully  scrutinized,  not  only  with  a  view  to  preserving 
the  present  interests  of  the  citizens,  but  also  to  the  end  that  they 
be  protected  in  the  future.  In  the  trial  of  cases  the  city's  attor- 
neys are  also  confronted  with  the  most  skillful  adversaries,  and 
it  is  to  the  credit  of  the  law  department  that  almost  without 
exception  the  rights  of  the  taxpayers  and  citizens  have  been 
preserved.  Many  questions  affecting  the  policy  of  the  admin- 
istration of  the  government  are  passed  upon  daily  by  lawyers 
for  the  city.  To  properly  advise,  often  upon  short  notice,  re- 
quires learning,  willingness  and  industry  such  as  is  not  demanded 
of  the  average  practicing  lawyer.  The  relatively  small  force  of 
comparatively  ill-paid  legal  advisers  of  the  city  has  unhesitat- 
ingly and  cheerfully  given  its  best  efforts  in  order  that  no  pos- 

52 


Corporation  Counsel's  Office 


53 


sible  right  of  the  citizens  might  be  infringed  upon  and  suffer 
through  lack  of  fidehty  and  attention. 

The  ofifice  of  the                . ,  Corporation     C  o  u  n- 

sel    includes    that    of        j^t^^^K^^  ^^'^^      ^^^V     Attorney, 

whose  chief  function     y^|Hi^^m^^^  is     to     represent    the 

city    in    personal    in-    i^Km               ^B^  J'-^^y      ^^^^      property 

damasfe  cases  arising  /i^^B.,.^  iSStm^B^  out    of   defective 


streets,  sidewalks, 
Prosecuting  A  1 1  o  r- 
to  represent  the  city 
of  suits  to  enforce 
lation  of  city  or- 
Attorney  for  the 
p  r  o  V  e  m  e  n  t  s,  pro- 
pose   of    representing 


HARRY   B.  MILLER 

City  Prosecuting  Attorney 


bridges,  etc. ;  the 
ney,  whose  duty  it  is 
in  cases  arising  out 
penalties  for  the  vio- 
dinances,  and  the 
Board  of  Local  Im- 
vided  for  the  pur- 
the  city  in  the  mat- 
ter of  constructing  special  assessments  for  local  improvements 
and  condemnation  suits  incidental  thereto. 

In  the  Corporation  Counsel's  office  proper  every  contract, 
bond,  lease,  permit  or  other  instrument  executed  by  the  city  or 
any  of  its  officers  is  carefully  examined  as  to  its  legality.  During 
the  past  year  over  4,000  opinions  have  been  given  to  the  officers 
of  the  city  in  matters  relating  to  the  administration  of  the  city's 
affairs.  Several  hundred  ordinances  have  been  prepared  and 
examined  or  revised,  and  the  number  of  contracts,  bonds  and 
leases  examined  in  the  course  of  the  year  runs  into  thousands. 
An  Assistant  Corporation  Counsel  is  specially  detailed  to  the 
Civil  Service  Commission  to  properly  advise  it  and  to  assist  in 
the  matter  of  trials  of  employees  of  the  city  subject  to  Civil 
Service  regulations.  Another  Assistant  Corporation  Counsel  is 
required  to  advise  the  Commission  as  to  the  propriety  of  its  rul- 
ings in  the  matter  of  appointments  and  discharges.  An  Assistant 
Corporation  Counsel  advises  the  Pension  Boards. 

It  will  serve  no  useful  purpose  to  make  a  detailed  report  of 
the  activities  of  the  department,  but  we  believe  mention  should 
be  made  of  certain  court  decisions  rendered  during  the  past  year 
which  are  of  more  than  ordinary  interest  to  the  people  of  Chicago. 
In  the  matter  of  the  enforcement  of  the  Sunday  Closing  Law, 
several  hundred  arrests  were  made  before  it  was  generally  recog- 
nized by  saloon  keepers  that  the  administration  was  determined 
to  enforce  this  law.     When   these  cases  came  up  for  trial  the 


54  Corporation  Counsel's  Office 

saloon  keepers  generally  took  jury  trials  and  continuances.  The 
State's  Attorney,  whose  duty  it  was  to  prosecute  because  the 
charges  were  based  on  a  violation  of  a  statute  of  the  State, 
refused  to  prosecute,  and    non-suited    sev- 

eral hundred  of  y^^H^^^  these  cases.  The  ad- 
ministration's effort  i4^^^^^^B^  to  enforce  this  law 
was  seriously  inter-  aB  __^^H^  fared  with  by  the 
attitude  of  the  jjHl^  H^H^^^Hi  ^^^^^'^  Attorney  and 
further  violations  oc-  f^B . > J|Lj|^^^B|  curred.  The  Corpo- 
ration Counsel  there-  l^^^^^sl^H^^H/  fore  appeared  in 
court  when  more  of  V^^^^^Hrj^^w  these  cases  came  up 
for  hearing,  and  ob-  ^^^HL^I^^V^  jected  to  the  entry  of 
any     further     orders     ^^Ih'^^B^       amounting    to    a   dis- 

sustained  the  p  o  s  i-  wm.  h.  devenish  tion  of  the  Corpora- 
tion Counsel,  where-  city  Attorney.  upon  the  State's 
Attorney  sought  by  mandamus  in  the  Supreme  Court  to  com- 
pel the  judge  to  permit  him  to  nolle  pros  such  cases.  The 
Corporation  Counsel  represented  the  judge  in  the  matter,  and 
the  Supreme  Court  finally  decided  that  tlie  State's  Attorney 
did  not  have  such  power,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  700  or 
800  cases,  which  had  accumulated  pending  the  determination 
of  the  mandamus  case  in  the  Supreme  Court,  have  finally  been 
set  down  for  trial  and  are  now  being  disposed  of. 

The  Supreme  Court  also  sustained  the  position  of  the  Cor 
poration  Counsel  in  defending  an  ordinance  passed  by  the  City 
Council  for  the  purpose  of  stopping  theatre  ticket  scalping  by 
requiring  an  applicant  for  an  amusement  license  to  agree  that  his 
license  might  be  revoked  in  case  it  was  shown  that  the  tickets 
were  disposed  of  by  the  theatres  to  scalpers. 

The  Corporation  Counsel  has  secured  the  issuance  of  a  writ 
of  error  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  for  a  review 
of  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in 
City  of  Chicago  v.  O'Connell,  278  111.  591,  determining  the  powers 
of  the  Public  Utilities  Commission,  and  by  his  review  it  is  hoped 
to  obtain  a  decision  from  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  as 
to  the  rights  of  the  city  with  respect  to  its  power  to  enforce 
definite  provisions  in  contract  ordinances,  such  as  those  provid- 
ing rates  for  Gas  and  Street  Car  fares,  when  the  State  Public 
Utilities  Commission  directs  a  different  method  of  performance. 


Corporation  Counsel's  Office  55 

In  the  matter  of  moving  pictures,  the  courts  of  Illinois  have 
determined,  as  a  result  of  litigation  in  which  the  Corporation 
Counsel  represented  the  city,  that  the  so-called  censorship  ordi- 
nance gave  authority  to  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police 
to  exercise  a  discretion  in  the  matter  of  the  issuance  of  permits 
for  moving  pictures,  and  held  that  his  discretion  was  not  subject 
to  review  by  the  courts  unless  it  was  exercised  capriciously, 
fraudulently  or  arbitrarily. 

The  Chinese  restaurant  cases  were  decided  in  favor  of  the 
city,  and  these  decisions  sustained  the  validity  of  the  ordinance 
requiring  restaurants  to  be  closed  at  i  :oo  A.  M. 

The  city  successfully  resisted  an  application  made  in  behalf 
of  a  citizen  of  Oak  Park  to  have  a  revision  by  the  Public  Utilities 
Commission  of  the  rates  fixed  in  the  telephone  ordinance  estab- 
lishing certain  rates  for  neighborhood  exchanges,  and  which  case 
was  dangerous  in  that  it  might  have  opened  the  way  to  a  decision 
which  might  seriously  impair  the  city's  rights  to  the  control  of 
the  Telephone  Company  and  interfere  with  the  collection  of  its 
proper  compensation. 

In  the  matter  of  the  application  of  the  Elevated  Railroads 
for  leave  to  increase  their  rate  of  fare  to  seven  cents,  the  Cor- 
poration Counsel  appeared  without  the  assistance  of  high-priced 
experts  and  special  counsel.  A  decision  of  the  Commission 
resulted  in  the  increase  of  but  one  cent  instead  of  two  cents  as 
requested  by  the  Companies.  The  city  is  contesting  the  right 
even  to  the  one  cent  increase  by  appeal  to  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Sangamon  County  and  thence,  if  necessary,  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  is  the  remedy  provided  by  the  Statute. 

As  a  result  of  the  manner  in  which  the  city  pressed  its  side 
of  the  case,  efforts  to  hold  up  the  construction  of  the  Monroe 
Street  Bridge  by  injunction  proceedings  were  frustrated. 

Certain  parties  claimed  to  be  owners  in  fee  of  the  tract  of 
land  occupied  by  the  Municipal  Pier  and  also  adjoining  streets. 
The  trial  court  decided  in  favor  of  the  city,  and  upon  appeal  this 
decision  was  affirmed. 

The  Empire  Voting  Machine  Case,  involving  a  claim  against 
the  city  of  $287,000,  the  price  of  300  voting  machines  which  were 
rejected  by  the  city  and  never  used,  was  tried  before  the  United 
States  District  Court  and  decided  favorably  to  the  city. 

The  case  of  Schoellkopf  v.  The  City,  in  the  Circuit  Court  of 


56  Corporation  Counsel's  Office 

Illinois,  was  a  bill  filed  by  a  property  owner  and  taxpayer  charg- 
ing that  the  specifications  in  use  by  the  Board  of  Local  Improve- 
ments for  creosoted  block  pavement  were  invalid.  It  appeared 
on  the  trial  that  these  specifications  were  drawn  so  as  to  produce 
a  creosoted  block  pavement  that  would  be  first-class  pavement 
and  would  avoid  the  defects  that  had  theretofore  existed  making 
such  a  pavement  impracticable.  After  a  long  trial  the  Circuit 
Court  dismissed  the  bill  and  upheld  the  specifications.  The  case 
was  appealed  by  the  property  owner  to  the  Supreme  Court,  which 
held  that  it  had  no  jurisdiction,  and  which  transferred  the  case 
to  the  Appellate  Court,  where  it  is  now  pending. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  over  500  suits  pending  against 
the  city  involving  almost  every  conceivable  question  of  municipal 
law.  Several  hundred  suits  are  commenced  yearly  against  the 
City  of  Chicago  which  are  handled  by  the  Corporation  Counsel's 
office,  and  these  suits,  of  course,  do  not  include  the  personal 
injury  suits  handled  by  the  City  Attorney  and  the  suits  to  collect 
penalties  for  the  violations  of  city  ordinances  which  are  handled 
by  the  Prosecutor's  Office. 

During  the  year  commencing  November  30,  1917,  and  end- 
ing November  30,  1918,  365  suits  were  disposed  of  by  the  City 
Attorney's  Office.  There  are  now  pending  in  various  courts  471 
suits.  The  total  amount  of  judgments  in  which  waivers  have 
been  issued  and  claims  paid  from  November  30,  1917,  to  and 
including  November  30,  1918,  not  including  judgments  on  awards 
of  the  Industrial  Board  in  Workmen's  Compensation  cases,  was 
$49,117.54.  The  total  number  of  cases  disposed  of  was  407,  mak- 
ing an  average  judgment  in  each  case  of  $120.86.  During  this 
period  approximately  2,000  investigations  were  made  and  332 
claims  were  adjusted  in  the  Workmen's  Compensation  division. 
In  a  number  of  these  cases  the  city  apparently  has  the  right  of 
action  over  for  indemnity  against  third  parties  for  the  amount  of 
compensation  paid  or  payable  by  the  city  to  injured  employees 
under  the  provisions  of  the  Workmen's  Compensation  Act,  and 
suits  have  been  begun  or  settlement  made  in  such  cases. 

The  accompanying  chart  will  be  of  interest  in  showing  the 
steadily  decreasing  amount  of  judgments  awarded  against  the 
city  during  this  administration  in  personal  injury  suits. 

The  average  judgment  of  $120.86  during  the  year  1918  is  the 
lowest  in  the  history  of  Chicago  for  any  one  year  since  1907. 


Corporation  Counsel's  Office  57 

While  the  construction  of  local  improvements  was  consid- 
erably lessened  by  war  conditions,  the  attorney  for  the  Board  of 
Local  Improvements,  nevertheless,  during  the  past  year  disposed 
of  many  special  assessment  proceedings.  There  were  pending  on 
December  15,  1917,  122  cases.  Since  that  date  and  up  to  Decem- 
ber 4,  1918,  950  new  petitions  were  filed,  making  a  total  of  1,072 ; 
617  of  these  cases  were  disposed  of  and  there  are  now  pending 
455  cases.  During  the  year  objections  were  filed  against  the  con- 
firmation of  assessments  in  598  cases,  which  aggregated  more 
than  $1,000,000.00. 

During  the  year  37  petitions  to  condemn  lands  were  filed, 
which,  added  to  the  79  cases  pending  in  December,  19 17,  made  a 
total  of  116  cases  of  that  character;  21  of  these  were  disposed  of 
during  the  year. 

All  the  legal  matters  relating  to  the  12th  Street  improvement, 
which  fell  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Board  of  Local  Improve- 
ments, have  been  completed,  and  all  matters  relating  to  the  Michi- 
gan Avenue  improvement  are  ended,  including  the  appeal  of  J.  S. 
Kirk,  who  was  dissatisfied  with  the  decision  of  the  jury,  and 
therefore  sought  to  have  a  review  of  it  in  the  Supreme  Court. 
In  this  particular  case  the  commissioners  fixed  the  award  at 
$500,000.00;  he  demanded  $1,500,000.00  and  was  allowed  only 
$433,000.00  by  the  jury  and  the  judgment  of  the  lower  court, 
which  judgment  has  just  been  affirmed  by  the  Supreme  Court. 
Preliminary  work  relating  to  the  matter  of  the  proposed  opening 
and  extension  of  Ogden  Avenue  from  Union  Park  to  Lincoln 
Park  has  been  commenced  by  this  department. 

The  City  Prosecuting  Attorney's  Office  prosecutes  all  viola- 
tions of  the  city  ordinances.  There  are  two  ways  in  which  these 
suits  are  commenced : 

(i)  On  complaints  from  the  heads  of  various  City  Depart- 
ments upon  which  complaints  this  office  files  a  statement  of  claim 
and  has  a  summons  issued. 

(2)  Arrest  by  police  officers  of  the  City  of  Chicago  on  war- 
rant or  arrest  on  view. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  cases  started  on  com- 
plaints from  the  various  departments  : 

Health  Department — 

Food     247 

Sanitary    .- 1,159 

Medical     28 


58  Corporation  Counsel's  Office 


Contagious   Disease    3 

Vital  Statistics 1 

Overcrowded   Street   Car    9 

Building  Department 186 

Fire   Prevention    896 

Smoke    Department    95 

City  Sealer 138 

Board  of  Examining  Plumbers  73 

Police  Department — 

License   Cases    268 

Motion   Picture    174 

Dog    Cases    83 

Clearing  Snow  from   Sidewalks 25 

One  o'clock  Closing   22 

Railroad   Cases    6 

Obstruction    Cases    4 

Cabaret  Ordinance  Cases   5 

Selling  Cigarets  to   Minors 2 

Selling  Liquor  to  Minors   2 

Amusement  License  Cases   2 

Junk  Shop   Cases    2 

Moving  Overcharge   2 

Harbor   Cases    3 

City  Street  Insp.  Cases   2 

Bond   Cases    200 

Miscellaneous  Cases   1 

Total    3,720 

Cases  started  on  complaint  of  citizens  and  brought  in  by  police.  1,783 

Grand   Total    5,503 

Number  of  cases  as  above  classified  disposed  of,  6,633.  This 
shows  that  not  only  were  there  as  many  case  stried  this  year  as 
were  started,  but  a  great  number  of  cases  were  disposed  of  that 
were  carried  over  from  last  year. 

Cases  of  the  Police  Department  started  by  warrants  or 
arrest  on  view  and  disposed  of  at  the  various  police  courts  and 
special  branches  are  as  follows : 

Court  Started         Disposed  of 

Speeders    Court    20,134  19,704 

Court  of  Domestic  Relations    462  464 

Jury    Court    *  4,985 

Morals   Court   6,709  5,044 

Boys'   Court    4,476  4,894 

Harrison    Street    11,274  9,406 

Desplaines   Street    8,682  8,885 

East  Chicago  Avenue  4,092  3,786 

West  Chicago  Avepi;?   ■ 3,743  3,475 


Corporation  Counsel's  Office  59 

Maxwell   Street    5,904  5,159 

Sheffield   Avenue    2,809  2,499 

Shakespeare   Avenue    4,768  3,517 

35th   Street   2,361  2,038 

Stock  Yards   3,240  2,976 

Englewood    1,960  1,703 

Hyde   Park    3,947  3,666 

South   Chicago    4,431  4,351 

88,992  85,552 

*Cases  tried  in  the  jury  Branch  are  transferred  from  other  courts 

on  jury  demand. 

The  grand  total  of  all  cases  started 92,744 

Disposed   of   91,041 

Report  of   cases  of  Appellate  and   Supreme   Courts  is  as 

f  ollov^s : 

Cases  filed  in  the  Appellate  Court 77 

Pending  in  said  Court  25 

Affirmed  in  said  Court 52 

Reversed  and  remanded   in   said    Court 0 

—  77 
Cases  filed  in  the  Supreme  Court 2 

Pending  in   said   Court 2 

Disposed  of  in  said  Court 0 

—  2 

Fines  collected  in  all  city  cases $130,503.00 

Park  cases  (tried  by  this  office)    16,866.50 

Total  fines  collected    $147,369.50 

The  Corporation  Counsel's  office  proper  is  in  charge  of  the 
defense  of  suits  for  damages  against  the  city  for  injury  to  real 
estate  by  reason  of  the  elevation  of  tracks  and  lov^ering  of  street 
grades.  During  the  past  year  53  of  such  cases  have  been  disposed 
of.  While  the  claims  aggregated  $1,574,500.00,  through  the 
efforts  of  this  department  only  $134,130.00  was  recovered — Sj/^% 
of  the  amount  sued  for. 

Work  devolving  upon  this  department  in  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  selective  service  \siw  continued.  During  1917, 
315,000  men  were  registered  through  the  organization  effected 
by  the  Mayor.  Since  that  time  two  registrations  were  ordered, 
and  in  assisting  the  Mayor  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  this 
department  took  care  of  all  registration  cards  of  nonresidents  of 
draft  age.  On  one  day,  September  12,  1918,  over  2,900  registra- 
tion cards  were  received  through  the  mails  by  the  Mayor.  Fol- 
lowing their  receipt,  in  a  great  majority  of  cases,  other  com- 
munications arrived  making  inquiries  as  to  the  further  duties  of 


60  Corporation  Counsel's  Office 

the  registrants,  which  communications  were  promptly  answered. 
These  cards  were  assigned  to  the  Corporation  Counsel's  office  and 
were  classified  by  districts  and  delivered  to  the  proper  local 
boards.  There  are  86  draft  boards  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  and 
through  the  efficient  work  of  this  department  all  the  cards  were 
promptly  distributed  without  mistake  or  delay. 

Claims  of  the  City  against  individuals  and  corporations  when 
not  paid  to  the  various  departments  are  sent  to  this  office  for 
collection.  We  have  referred  in  our  previous  reports  to  the  suc- 
cess which  has  attended  the  efiforts  of  this  department  in  the  col- 
lection of  such  delinquent  warrants,  and  a  brief  examination  of 
those  reports  will  show  the  steadily  increasing  efficiency  of  this 
department  in  the  matter  of  collections.  In  the  year  1914, 
$7,708.63  was  collected;  in  1915,  $6,988.95;  in  1916,  $50,095.80; 
in  1917,  $99,261.30;  and  in  1918,  to  December  3,  the  amount 
collected  is  $204,312.01. 

It  was  necessary  to  expend  a  large  amovmt  of  time  and  efifort 
in  contesting  the  attempts  of  attorneys  who  regularly  attack  the 
revenues  through  the  medium  of  objections  filed  when  the  County 
Collector  applies  for  judgment  on  delinquent  lands  and  lots.  The 
usual  large  number  of  objections  were  filed  this  year.  The  attor- 
neys representing  the  different  parties  co-operated  and  made  a 
concerted  attack  with  respect  to  each  of  the  levies  which  they 
hoped  to  reduce.  The  onslaught  on  the  city's  taxes  was  directed 
to  six  different  items  aggregating  a  total  rate  of  17  cents.  If 
such  a  reduction  had  been  made  it  would  have  meant  a  loss  of 
revenue  of  $400,000.00  to  the  city.  The  hearing  before  the 
County  Court  extended  over  about  three  weeks  and  the  decision 
was  distinctly  favorable  to  the  city.  The  court  allowed  a  reduc- 
tion of  three  cents  instead  of  17  cents.  The  objectors  appealed 
and  the  case  is  now  pending  in  the  Supreme  Court,  where  a  deci- 
sion will  undoubtedly  be  rendered  before  the  end  of  the  year. 

As  before  stated,  the  work  of  this  department  was  greatly 
increased  by  war  conditions.  This  was  due  in  a  large  measure 
to  the  fact  that  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment required  for  their  proper  execution  active  and  intelligent 
co-operation  of  the  various  municipal  agencies  with  the  Federal 
authorities,  ofttimes  under  conditions  which  made  results  difficult 
to  obtain,  and  the  heads  of  the  departments  constantly  advised 
with  this  department  as  to  tlie  measures  which  should  be  taken 


Corporation  Counsel's  Office 


61 


1907    1906    1909  1910    1911    1912    1913    1914    1915    1916    1917   I9IS 
YEAR 


Chart   showing  marked  reduction  in   cost   of  judgments   against  city. 


62  Corporation  Counsel's  Office 

for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  best  possible  results  in  view  of 
the  extraordinary  conditions  prevailing. 

Special  consideration  was  given  to  the  enforcement  of  every 
measure  calculated  to  protect  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  every 
other  agency  actively  engaged  in  governmental  work. 

The  members  of  this  department  also  spent  much  time  di- 
rectly for  the  Government  in  the  performance  of  their  duties 
as  members  of  local  draft  and  appeal  boards. 

The  lyaw  Department  has  been  able  to  serve  the  citizens  of 
Chicago  very  efficiently  because  its  policy  has  been  to  keep  all 
assistants  and  employees  engaged  in  doing  the  work  for  which 
they  are  best  qualified,  in  consequence  of  which  there  has  been 
built  up  an  organization  of  well-trained  lawyers  and  assistants 
with  special  skill  in  the  matter  of  handling  municipal  problems 
and  litigation. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS 

Charles  R.  Francis,  Commissioner 
BUREAU  OF  ENGINEERING 


rpHERE     are 

are  applicable 
ing  the  last  two 

Great  increases 
material  and  more 
age  and  restrictions 
war. 

these  conditions  the 
cago  during  the  year 
greater  net  profits 
other  year  in  the 


Water  Supply 

two 


System 

outstanding  facts  that 
to  all  City  work  dur- 
years : 

in  costs  of  labor  and 
or  less  labor  short- 
due  to  the  world 
Irrespective  of 
water  system  of  Chi- 
1917  has  made 
than  d  u  r  i  ng  any 
city's  history. 


Operation 

The  pumpage  of  water  has  increased  from  221,000,000,000 
gallons  in  1915  to  250,000,000,000  gallons  in  1918. 

The  cost  of  repairs  and  maintenance  has  steadily  decreased 
during  the  past  four  years,  irrespective  of  the  steadily  increasing 
mileage  of  pipe  in  the  system,  and  the  increases  in  labor  and 
material. 

Thus,  with  2,641  miles  of  mains  in  191 5  the  total  cost  of 
maintenance  and  repairs  was  about  $736,000.00,  while  in  1917, 
with  2,842  miles  of  mains  in  service,  the  total  cost  was  reduced  to 
about  $533,900.00. 

New  designs  for  more  efficient  and  standardized  fire  hydrants 
and  gate  valves,  assuring  interchangeability  of  parts,  were  made 
and  introduced. 

I^eakage  tests  of  mains  and  service  pipes  in  all  streets  paved 
and  a  thorough  overhauling  of  same  were  made  prior  to  paving. 

Aatomobile  truck  equipment  replacing  all  teams  used  on 
maintenance  work  was  introduced. 

During  this  period  350  million  gallons  daily  tunnel  capacity 
and  180  million  gallons  daily  pumping  capacity  have  been  added 
to  the  system. 

63 


64 


Department  of  Public  Works 


BUREAU  OF  ENGINEERING 


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Department  of  Public  Works 


65 


BUREAU   OF  ENG/NEERIN6 

Division  cf  Bridges 


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1915  1916  1917  1918 

INCREASE  IN  COST  OF  LABOR  <S- MATERIALS.  I9I5toI9I6 


66  Department  of  Public  Works 

An  exhaustive  study  of  the  needs  and  required  additions  and 
improvements  to  the  City's  water  supply  system  up  to  the  year 
1940  has  been  undertaken,  and  is  nearing  completion. 

Bridges 
Construction 

During  the  past  four  years  there  have  been  constructed  and 
placed  in  operation  three  bascule  bridges,  replacing  old  swing 
bridges,  and  one  at  Monroe  street,  which  is  nearly  completed, 
making  an  additional  connection  between  the  west  and  south 
sides.    The  total  cost  of  these  bridges  is  $1,755,000.00, 

Six  fixed  bridges  crossing  outlying  branches  of  the  river,  at 
a  total  cost  of  $402,000.00,  have  also  been  constructed  during 
this  period. 

Contracts  have  also  been  awarded  for  the  construction  of 
Franklin-Orleans  street  bridge,  which  will  form  a  new  link  be- 
tween the  north  and  south  sides  of  the  city;  and  for  the  Wells 
street  bridge. 

Work  on  these  bridges  has  been  retarded  on  account  of 
industrial  conditions  due  to  the  war. 

Plans  for  several  additional  bridges  have  been  completed. 

Repairs  and  Maintenance 

The  appropriations  for  the  proper  repairs  and  maintenance 
of  bridges  have  never  been  adequate.  The  consequence  is  that 
bridges  are  depreciating  at  a  rapid  rate,  and  only  the  replacing 
of  some  old  bridges  with  new  ones  to  offset  this  tendency  has 
made  it  possible  to  keep  the  system  as  a  whole  in  satisfactory 
operation  with  the  means  available. 

Municipal  Shops 

The  municipal  shops,  constructed  principally  during  the  past 
four  years,  are  the  most  modern  and  complete  municipal  shops 
in  existence.  Since  their  completion  it  has  been  possible  to  con- 
solidate the  repair  work  of  the  various  divisions  of  the  depart- 
ment of  public  works  and  of  other  municipal  departments. 

Municipal  Warehouse  and  Yards 

This  branch  of  the  City's  service  was  created  in  January, 
1916,  for  the  purpose  of  centralizing  and  handling  of  all  kinds 
of  material  used  by  various  City  departments. 


Department  of  Public  Works  67 

About  600  carloads  of  material  are  received  and  unloaded 
annually,  and  then  delivered  in  small  quantities  to  various  loca- 
tions. The  annual  volume  of  business  has  averaged  about  $1,- 
600,000.00.  About  70  per  cent  of  the  commodities  are  purchased 
on  contract  in  large  quantities  after  public  advertisements  on 
standard  specifications,  and  subjected  to  rigid  tests.  About  20 
per  cent  of  the  materials  handled  are  manufactured  by  the 
municipal  shops. 

I^arge  quantities  of  material  purchased  in  1916  and  1917  at 
favorable  prices  enabled  the  City  to  weather  the  emergencies  due 
to  shortages  caused  by  the  war,  and  also  to  assist  the  Federal 
Government  on  a  number  of  occasions.  Water  pipe  purchased 
then  at  $35.00  per  ton  represents  a  saving  of  about  $350,000.00, 
the  present  market  price  being  $66.80  per  ton.  Besides  assisting 
the  Federal  Government  with  many  tons  of  pipe  and  special 
castings,  there  is  still  sufficient  stock  to  meet  most  of  the  require- 
ments for  the  ensuing  year. 

Miscellaneous  Construction 

A  branch  of  the  department  of  public  works  known  as  the 
construction  division  is  in  fact  equivalent  to  a  large  contracting 
organization  doing  all  kinds  of  construction  work  by  City  day 
labor,  such  as  tunnels,  cribs,  pumping  stations,  buildings  of  all 
sorts,  and  general  repair  and  maintenance  work  for  all  City 
departments. 

Principal  Constructions 

The  construction  of  Wilson  Avenue  Timnel  and  Mayfair 
Pumping  Station,  including  the  completion  of  the  Wilson  Avenue 
Crib.  This  will  cost  approximately  $5,800,000.00,  which  is  within 
the  estimate,  notwithstanding  great  increases  in  cost  of  labor  and 
material. 

The  completion  of  the  Marshall  Boulevard  Municipal  Plant, 
consisting  of  seven  large  buildings  of  various  types  of  construc- 
tion and  a  central  power  house,  including  complete  layout  of 
grounds  and  docks.  This  plant  provides  the  central  warehouse, 
garage,  laboratory,  and  central  repair  shops  for  all  City  depart- 
ments. The  total  cost  of  the  plant  will  be  approximately  $2,600,- 
000.00. 

The  installation  of  new  pumps  and  boiler  equipment  at 
various  pumping  stations. 


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Department  of  Public  Works 


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BUREAU  OF  ENGINEERING 

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70  Department  of  Public  Works 

The  construction  of  four  new  buildings  for  the  Chicago  and 
Cook  County  School  for  Boys. 

The  construction  of  various  piers  in  I^ake  Michigan  for  the 
protection  of  bathing  beaches. 

Tests  and  Inspections 

The  facilities  for  the  work  of  the  testing  and  inspection  of 
materials  and  supplies  have  been  greatly  increased  by  the  con- 
struction since  i9i5  of  the  new  laboratory  for  chemical  and 
physical  testing. 

Chicago  has  now  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  mu- 
nicipal laboratories  in  the  country. 

In  this  laboratory  are  tested  all  kinds  of  materials  and  sup- 
plies used  by  the  City. 

BUREAU  OF  WATER 

Assessments  and  Collections  of  Water  Rates 

The  gross  collections  of  the  Bureau  of  Water  will  aggregate 
$7,500,000.00,  an  increase  of  2  1/5%  over  i9iy,  and  of  about 
$1,200,000.00,  or  nearly  20%,  during  the  last  four  years. 

The  bureau  maintains,  through  the  American  and  Adams 
Express  Companies,  1,030  stations  where  the  customers  may 
conveniently  pay  their  frontage  water  bills  in  their  home  neigh- 
borhoods. 

BUREAU  OF  COMPENSATION 

The  Bureau  of  Compensation  is  organized  for  the  collection 
of  revenue  for  privileges  on  and  under  streets  and  alleys. 

The  annual  revenue  varies  by  virtue  of  large  railroad  and 
industrial  improvements  which  involve  the  vacation  of  street  and 
alley  space. 

The  normal  revenue  from  the  bureau  has  been  increasing 
from  year  to  year,  and  the  total  revenue  for  the  year  19 18  will 
exceed  $500,000.00,  a  net  increase  of  $50,000.00  over  the  year 
i9iy,  which  was  a  normal  year.  The  increase  of  $50,000.00 
mentioned  above  is  due  to  the  efforts  of  the  bureau  in  forcing 
the  payment  for  switch  tracks  laid  and  parts  of  streets  occupied 
for  some  time  past  without  payment. 

BUREAU  OF  MAPS  AND  PLATS 

New  atlases  of  all  territory  annexed  were  constructed. 
Uniform  house  numbering  and  street  nomeclature  systems  for 
same  were  established.     Reclamation  surveys  of  the  Santa  Fe, 


Department  of  Public  Works  71 

Illinois  Central,  Chicago  and  Northwestern  and  Chicago  and 
Western  Indiana  Railroads,  and  survey  for  Ogden  avenue  exten- 
sion, were  made.  Surveys  of  12th  Street  widening  and  new 
Union  Station  were  checked.  Over  $7,000,000.00  land  value  is 
claimed  under  reclamation  surveys  made. 

BUREAU  OF  WASTE  DISPOSAL 

Improvements  have  been  made  from  time  to  time  until  at 
present  the  Municipal  Reduction  Plant  at  39th  and  Iron  streets 
is  pronounced  by  experts  as  the  most  sanitary  that  can  be  found 
anywhere. 

Prior  to  July,  1916,  the  output  of  this  plant,  known  as  com- 
mercially dried  garbage,  was  sold  to  a  contractor  who  extracted 
the  grease  therefrom  and  made  a  finished  tankage  of  the  residue. 
The  grease  is  now  extracted  by  the  City  from  the  dried  garbage, 
the  residue  is  finished  into  a  commercial  fertilizer  and  metallic 
wastes,  rags  and  bones  are  recovered.  The  City  now  obtains  a 
price  of  ii^^c  per  pound  for  its  output  of  grease,  and  approx- 
imately $15.00  per  ton  for  its  output  of  tankage. 

During  the  year  i9i8  this  plant  will  produce  approximately 
3,225,000  pounds  of  grease  and  16,000  tons  of  finished  tankage. 
The  total  revenue  for  1918  will  reach  $580,000.00,  and,  for  the 
first  time  in  the  history  of  the  City's  reduction  plant,  a  profit 
will  be  realized  approximately  $80,000.00  over  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction. 

The  incinerator  of  the  bureau,  located  in  the  House  of  Cor- 
rection, has  been  reconstructed  during  the  past  year  with  the 
result  that  the  efficiency  of  this  plant  has  been  increased  100%. 

BUREAU  OF  STREETS 

The  bureau  of  streets  during  the  four  years  of  my  adminis- 
tration has  kept  pace  with  the  city's  progress  and  served  the  pub- 
lic through  its  various  branches,  adopting  up-to-date  methods  and 
employing  modern  machines  to  do  the  work  that  vitally  affects 
the  health  and  comfort  of  the  community.  The  year  i9i8  is 
typical  and  shows  our  yearly  progress.  We  have  begun  the 
motorization  of  our  garbage  hauling  equipment.  We  have  pur- 
chased a  site  on  Goose  Island  for  a  rubbish  incinerator  and  have 
let  the  contract  for  its  erection,  thereby  doing  away  with  unsight- 
ly dumps  and  cheapening  the  cost  of  rubbish  collection.  We  are 
working  with  the  civic  and  governmental  agencies  in  an  effort  to 


72  Department  of  Public  Works 

bring  the  Lake  Front  matter  to  a  settlement  in  order  to  secure 
for  the  south  and  southwest  city  territory  dumps  for  ashes  and 
rubbish  and  at  the  same  time  make  valuable  public  lands.  We 
have  established  a  closer  cooperation  with  the  Health  Department 
and  find  such  cooperation  of  much  help  in  preventing  the  spread 
of  disease  and  the  stamping  out  of  epidemics.  We  have  kept  the 
streets  and  alleys  of  the  city  clean  despite  the  heavy  outlay  of 
funds  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  combating  the  tmprecedented 
snow  storms  which  used  up  money  that  was  set  aside  for  street 
cleaning  for  the  balance  of  the  year. 

The  appearance  of  Chicago  and  the  safety  of  its  inhabitants 
depend  upon  the  conditions  of  its  pavements.  The  wheel  tax 
money,  totaling  one  million  dollars,  is  expended  upon  the  repair 
of  these  streets.  During  the  year  1918  we  repaired  614,000 
square  yards  of  Chicago's  pavement.  Two  miles  of  streets  were 
entirely  resurfaced,  and  320  miles  of  macadam  streets  oiled.  You 
who  have  visited  other  cities  cannot  be  ashamed  by  comparison, 
for  our  streets  are  as  well  repaired  as  any  large  city  in  the  coun- 
try, and  our  expenditure  only  one-sixth  as  much  as  that  of  New 
York.  Each  year  we  install  new  and  modern  machines  for  doing 
this  work,  and  at  present  a  motor  fleet  of  thirty  heavy  trucks  is 
used  in  the  hauling  of  paving  material  from  three  large  asphalt 
plants  built  to  furnish  this  activity,  together  with  an  equipment 
of  road  rollers  and  various  other  styles  of  equipment.  This 
work  spread  out  over  ten  square  miles  does  not  present  a  picture 
of  great  magnitude  to  the  public,  but  nevertheless  it  represents  a 
force  equivalent  to  many  large  industries  and  has  been  built  up 
from  the  receipts  of  vehicle  licenses,  which  have  increased  from 
$730,000.00  in  1914  to  $1,135,000.00  in  1917. 

BUREAU  OF  SEWERS 

The  duty  of  keeping  Chicago's  sewerage  system  serviceable 
has  shown  progressive  improvement  both  in  methods  of  per- 
forming work  and  in  the  reduction  of  unit  costs  of  its  principal 
activities,  namely,  the  flushing  and  scraping  of  main  sewers  and 
the  cleaning  of  catch  basins. 

The  operating  results  of  the  work  of  the  year  1914  were  the 
best  up  to  that  time.  Since  then  and  in  comparison  a  saving  of 
$103,501.44  has  been  achieved,  with  nearly  a  thirty  per  cent, 
increase  in  rate  of  labor  wages,  and  thirty  per  cent,  increase  in 
rate  of  team  hire,  as  shown  in  the  following  statement. 


Department  of  Public  Works  73 

A  large  percentage  of  catch  basins  were  cleaned  by  City-owned 
machines.  One  of  these  was  operated  the  entire  year  and  the 
other  six  since  June  i.    The  results  obtained  are  most  gratifying. 

Sewers  and  Catch  Basins  Cleaned 

1914 

Cost  Cost 

per  100  ft.         basin 

Sewers   flushed    6,491,700  ft.       $0.66 

Sewers  scraped    531,800  ft.       10.25 

Catch  basins  cleaned   .  .  .       46,963  $3.13 

Total     $244,348.91 

1915 

Cost  Cost 

per  100  ft.         basin 

Sewers   flushed    6,546,800  ft.       $0.65 

Sewers  scraped   600,100  ft.         9.38 

Catch  basins  cleaned  . .  .      45,908  $3.06 

Total  at  1914  unit  costs 248,411.22 

Total  at  1915  unit  costs *  239,322.06 

Saving    $     9,089.16 

1916 

Cost  Cost 

per  100  ft.         basin 

Sewers   flushed    .... 7,416,900  ft.       $0.57 

Sewers  scraped   699,800  ft.         8.19 

Catch  basins  cleaned    .  .  .       49,308  $2.97 

Total  at  1914  unit  costs 275,015.08 

Total  at  1916  unit  costs 246,034.71 

Saving    $  28,980.37 

1917 

Cost  Cost 

per  100  ft.         basin 

Sewers   flushed    6,755,100  ft.       $0.60 

Sewers  scraped   542,400  ft.         9.21 

Catch  basins,  by  hand..       41,231  $2.83 

Catch  basins,  by  machine        1,726  1.375 

Total  at  1914  unit  costs 231,605.94 

Total  at  1917  unit  costs **  209,542.32 

Saving    $  22,063.32 


74  Department  of  Public  Works 

1918 

Cost  Cost 

per  100  ft.         basin 

Sewers   flushed    5,791,190  ft.       $0.60 

Sewers  scraped   373,361  ft.       10.22 

Catch  basins,  by  hand..      12,893  $2.90 

Catch  basins,  by  machine      23,138  1.53 

Total  at  1914  unit  costs $189,264.13 

Total  at  1918  unit  costs ***  145,895.54 


Saving    $  43,368.59 

Grand   total    saving    $103,501.44 

Per  day 

*  Laborers'  wages  increased  from $3.00  to  $3.30 

Crew  bosses'  wages  increased  from 3.30  to     3.60 

**  Team  hire    (double)    increased   fx-om 6.00  to     7.00 

Team  hire   (single)    increased  from 3.75  to     4.50 

***  Laborers'  wages  increased  from 3.30  to     3.80 

Crew  bosses'  wages  increased  from   3.60  to     4.15 

Team  hire  (double)  increased  from  (Aug.  27,  1918)  7.00  to     8.00 
Team  hire  (single)  increased  from  (Aug.  27,  1918)  4.50  to     5.50 

BUREAU  OF  PARKS,  PLAYGROUNDS,  AND 
BATHING  BEACHES 

During  the  past  four  years  the  Bureau  of  Parks,  Public  Play- 
grounds, and  Bathing  Beaches  has  more  than  doubled  in  size 
and  in  number  of  activities  carried  on.  During  this  time  great 
strides  were  made  in  bringing  the  lake  back  to  the  people. 

There  was  built  the  Clarendon  Municipal  Bathing  Beach,  the 
largest  public  bathing  beach  in  the  world,  with  a  capacity  of  ten 
thousand  bathers  at  one  time,  at  a  cost  of  one-half  million  dollars. 
Property  has  been  bought  immediately  north  of  this  beach  for 
recreation  purposes  and  a  large  municipal  playground  is  about 
to  be  established  thereon. 

Bathing  beaches  were  also  established  at  51st  street  and  at 
76th  street.  The  shore  property  between  75th  and  79th  streets 
has  been  acquired  for  bathing  beach  purposes,  and  temporary 
accommodations  provided  for  seven  thousand  bathers  at  one  time. 

Further  than  this,  life  guard  service  has  been  provided  at 
all  unprotected  street  ends,  making  the  lake  accessible  to  the  peo- 
ple for  bathing  from  one  end  of  the  city  to  the  other.  Three 
all-year-round  swimming  pools  have  been  established,  one  on  the 
south,  one  of  the  west,  and  one  of  the  nor*hsides  of  the  city. 


Department  of  Public  Works  75 

By  action  of  the  State  Legislature  a  five  mill  tax  has  been 
authorized  for  playground  purposes,  which  brings  to  this  bureau 
about  one-half  million  dollars  per  year  for  the  operation  of  play- 
grounds and  the  acquisition  of  sites. 

In  the  year  1899  your  present  Mayor,  then  Alderman  from 
the  Second  Ward,  introduced  a  resolution  to  the  City  Council 
establishing  the  first  Municipal  playground.  This  is  a  matter  in 
which  he  has  always  taken  the  greatest  interest,  believing  that  the 
development  of  this  policy  is  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  child- 
ren, particularly  in  congested  districts  of  the  city,  and  is  of  the 
greatest  importance  in  safeguarding  the  health  and  well-being  of 
the  future  generation.  When  he  was  elected  Mayor  in  191 5  one 
of  his  first  acts  was  to  increase  facilities  of  this  kind,  and  by 
building  new  playgrounds  and  throwing  open  those  in  school 
grounds  to  the  public  increased  the  number  available  from  27  in 
191 5  to  66  in  1916.  Four  more  have  been  added  during  the  past 
two  years,  making  the  number  in  1918  70  in  all.  The  annual  at- 
tendance of  children  has  also  increased  from  700,000  in  1902  to 
16,000,000  in  1918.  The  chart  on  page  yy  shows  the  progress  and 
development  of  this  idea. 

THE  MUNICIPAL  PIER 

With  an  attendance  of  over  three  million,  and  with  increased 
opportunities  for  public  enjoyment,  the  recreation  section  of  the 
Municipal  Pier  has  become  the  most  popular  outing  place  for  the 
citizens  of  Chicago  during  the  hot  summer  season. 

The  Pier  auditorium,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  over  three 
thousand,  has  during  the  past  year  been  equipped  with  a  special 
ceiling,  rendering  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  hall  almost 
perfect  for  concerts  and  oratorical  purposes. 

This  hall  has  been  almost  constantly  in  demand  during  the 
past  season.  It  has  afforded  pleasure  for  almost  a  million  dancers. 
It  has  entertained  many  thousands  of  people  during  the  splendid 
concerts  of  the  Chicago  and  other  leading  bands.  It  has  revealed 
to  an  equally  large  number  the  finest  artistic  productions  of  the 
Drama  League  of  Chicago.  It  has  given  free  scope  for  joy 
and  education  to  countless  numbers  of  children  in  the  production 
of  pageants  and  oratorios.  Multitudes  have  gathered  to  sing 
under  the  direction  of  the  Civic  Music  Association.  Enthusiastic 
citizens  of  foreign  descent  have  gathered  here  on  special  occa- 


76  Department  of  Public  Works 


sions  to  listen  to  the  most  eloquent  patriotic  and  humanitarian 
appeals. 

A  part  of  the  Art  Gallery  was  set  aside  for  the  use  of  the 
Red  Cross  section  of  the  Drama  League,  thus  affording  an  oppor- 
tunity to  contribute  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  our  soldiers  at 
home  and  abroad. 

Close  by  was  an  Infant  Welfare  Exhibit  with  charts  and 
diagrams,  as  well  as  general  information,  pertaining  to  the  con- 
servation of  child  life. 

On  the  south  wing  of  the  commercial  section  of  the  Pier  the 
United  States  Naval  Auxiliary  Reserve  School,  with  a  maxinuim 
enrollment  of  twenty-one  hundred,  was  housed  without  expense 
to  the  Government. 

The  first  year's  operations  showed  a  deficit  of  about  $50,- 
000.00,  and  the  second  a  deficit  of  approximately  $20,000.00, 
while  the  present  year  shows  a  net  gain  of  about  $10,000.00. 

BUREAU  OF  RIVERS  AND  HARBORS 

The  combining  of  bridge  operation  with  the  regular  Harbor 
forces  resulted  in  a  system  of  organization  by  which  the  move- 
ment of  vessels  and  street  traffic  at  the  various  bridges  is  now 
handled  to  the  best  advantage. 

The  working  hours  of  the  bridgetenders  were  reduced  from 
twelve  to  eight  hours. 

The  danger  to  shipping  on  the  south  side  of  the  new  Munici- 
pal Pier  in  heavy  seas  was  reduced  to  a  minimum  by  the  con- 
struction of  breakwater  five  hundred  feet  south  of  and  parallel 
to  the  pier,  and  extending  2,350  feet  into  Lake  Michigan. 

BUREAU  OF  ARCHITECTURE 

The  following  buildings,  with  the  accompanying  descriptions, 
were  erected  for  various  departments  and  bureaus  during  the 
period  from  1915  to  1918,  inclusive: 

Municipal  Contagious  Disease  Hospital 

Administration  Building  and  Ward  Building  No.  3  were  com- 
pleted in  1916  at  the  site  of  Municipal  Contagious  Disease  Hos- 
pital, South  California  avenue  and  West  31st  street,  for  the 
Department  of  Health  at  a  cost,  including  equipment,  of  approx- 
imately $260,000.  New  Ward  Building  No.  2,  with  connecting 
corridors,  is  now  nearing  completion,  and  caisson  foundations 
are  in  place  for  additional  Ward  Building  No.  4. 


Department  of  Public  Works 


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78  Department  of  Public  Works 

The  new  Ward  Building  No.  2  is  of  four  story  fireproof  con- 
struction, with  open  air  recreation  roof  for  patients  and  contain- 
ing wards  and  cubicles  for  250  patients.  On  the  ground  floor  a 
visitors'  waiting  room  is  provided,  from  which  visitors  may  enter 
the  interior  corridors  on  each  floor  of  the  building  and  view  the 
patients  in  the  wards  through  glass  partitions  without  coming  in 
contact  with  the  infected  area.  The  cost  of  Ward  Building  No.  2 
with  connecting  Corridors,  including  mechanical  equipment, 
metal  shelving,  lockers,  etc.,  is  approximately  $575,000.00,  and  the 
exterior  of  same  was  designed  to  harmonize  with  existing  build- 
ings and  arranged  for  a  group  of  ward  buildings  to  be  erected, 
five  of  which  are  contemplated. 

Public  Bath  Buildings 

Three  new  Public  Bath  Buildings  were  erected  known  as 
Lincoln  Street  Bath,  Kedzie  Avenue  Municipal  Bath,  and  Frank 
E.  Lawler  Bath. 

In  the  above  bath  houses  adequate  waiting  rooms  are  pro- 
vided for  the  patrons  so  that  it  will  be  unnecessary  for  them  to 
wait  in  line  outside  during  the  busy  period.  The  waiting  rooms 
are  so  arranged  that  they  can  be  closed  entirely  from  the  bath  pro- 
per and  made  available  for  the  use  of  neighborhood  meetings,  lec- 
tures, and  similar  civic  activities.  The  Lincoln  Street  Bath  is 
successfully  operating  the  first  public  laundry,  where  the  women 
of  the  neighborhood  obtain  free  use  of  all  necessary  washing 
facilities. 

The  above  buildings  are  of  fireproof  construction,  with  mod- 
ern equipment  for  the  spacious  and  well-ventilated  shower  rooms. 
They  are  attractive  in  appearance  and  were  erected  at  an  approx- 
imate cost  of  $70,000.00  each. 

Police  Station  Buildings 

New  Police  Station  Buildings  were  erected  at  an  approximate 
cost  of  $70,000.00  each  at  the  following  sites :  6th  District  station, 
48th  St.  and  Wabash  Ave. ;  20th  District  station,  23rd  and  Robey 
Sts. ;  9th  District  station,  91st  St.  and  Cottage  Grove  Ave.;  and 
24th  District  station,  Chicago  and  Lorel  Aves.  The  26th  District 
station,  Racine  Ave.  and  Superior  St.,  was  erected  at  an  approxi- 
mate cost  of  $130,000.00.  The  above  Police  Stations,  in  addition 
to  the  usual  accommodations,  also  include  exterior  public  comfort 
station  adjoining  the  buildings  accessible  from  sidewalk.    The  cell 


Det>nrtment  of  Public  Works 


79 


80  Department  of  Public  Works 

portion  embodies  the  lastest  designs  of  steel  cells  and  is  so  built 
that  light  and  ventilation  is  obtained  through  the  guarded  win- 
dows of  cell  room,  facing  an  unobstructed  area  on  all  three  sides. 
A  shower  compartment  is  provided  in  each  cell  room  for  the  use 
of  prisoners,  as  well  as  the  attendant's  space.  Prison  lavatories 
are  installed  in  each  cell  in  a  steel  niche  controlled  by  a  sliding 
door.  On  the  second  floor,  dormitories  with  g}aiinasium,  showers 
and  toilets  are  provided  for  the  police.  The  26th  District  Police 
Station  contains  a  spacious  court  room,  with  public  lobbies,  judge's 
chamber  and  jury  room,  and  detention  cell  rooms  for  women.  In 
the  basement  a  shooting  gallery  is  provided  for  target  practice 
for  the  police.  This  station  is  considered  one  of  the  largest,  most 
modern  and  best  ever  constructed. 

A  new  Cell  House  adjoining  the  22nd  District  Station,  2433 
Warren  Avenue,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  approximately  $25,-^ 
000.00.  This  improvement  consists  of  two-story  fire-proof  build- 
ing with  steel  cells  for  men  and  detention  cell  rooms  for  women. 

Plans  and  specifications  are  prepared  and  ready  for  con- 
struction of  seven  additional  Police  Stations  to  be  situated  at 
various  locations,  pending  the  approval  of  the  redistricting  pro- 
gram by  the  Department  of  Police. 

Fire  Department  Buildings 

Ten  new  Fire  Engine  and  Truck  Houses  were  erected  at  an 
average  cost  of  $30,000.00  each,  at  the  following  sites:  817  E. 
91st  St. ;  4426  N.  Kedzie  Ave. ;  5218  S.  Western  Ave. ;  2179  State 
St. ;  43rd  and  Paulina  Sts. ;  430  W.  104th  St. ;  2329  N.  Natchez 
Ave. ;  7313  Kingston  Ave. ;  712  N.  Kedzie  Ave. ;  1713  N.  Spring 
field  Ave.,  and  also  one  combination  Engine  and  Truck  House  is 
nearing  completion  at  5441-45  Lake  Park  Ave.,  that  will  cost 
approximately  $60,000.00. 

The  above  buildings  are  of  fireproof  construction,  with 
metal  windows  and  doors,  designed  to  house  motor-driven  appar- 
atus. The  adjoining  grounds  at  each  site  are  improved  with  hand- 
ball courts,  seats  and  pergola  shelters,  for  the  recreation  of  fire- 
men. The  grounds  may  also  be  used  by  the  boys  living  in  the 
neighborhood. 

Electrical  Sub-Station  Building 

Two  buildings  were  erected  at  the  Northwest  Sub-Station, 
4541    N.   Keokuk   Ave.,   and   South   Chicago   Sub-Station,   8645 


Department  of  Public  Works  81 

Yates  Ave.  Both  buildings  are  of  two-story  fireproof  con- 
struction, arranged  to  house  the  electrical  equipment.  The  cost 
of  each  building,  exclusive  of  equipment,  was  approximately 
$25,000.00. 

Mayfair  Pumping  Station 
Plans  and  specifications  were  prepared  for  the  Mayfaii 
Pumping  Station,  constructed  by  the  Bureau  of  Engineering,  a1 
the  approximate  cost  of  $500,000.00,  exclusive  of  equipment,  and 
consists  of  an  office  portion,  pump  room,  boiler  room  and  coal 
bunkers.  The  interior  of  pump  room,  60  ft.  wide  and  240  ft. 
long,  is  lined  with  ornamental  terra  cotta  and  there  is  also  an 
attractive  lobby  and  marble  stairway  entrance  to  visitors'  iron 
balcony  which  extends  all  along  the  entire  pump  room.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  modern  pumping  stations  erected  in  the  City. 

Municipal  Power  House 

Plans  were  prepared  for  the  Municipal  Power  House,  con- 
structed by  the  Bureau  of  Engineering,  on  the  House  of  Correc- 
tion grounds.  Same  is  of  fireproof  construction,  with  pipe 
tunnels  supplying  the  power,  heat  and  water  for  the  Marshall 
Boulevard  Plant  and  the  Contagious  Disease  Hospital.  The 
approximate  cost  is  $30,000.00,  exclusive  of  equipment  and  con- 
necting tunnels. 

Incinerator  Building 

Plans  and  specifications  were  prepared  and  bids  received  foi 
the  construction  of  a  two-story  Incinerator  Building,  for  burning 
rubbish,  etc.,  to  be  located  at  the  River  and  Division  street,  for  the 
Bureau  of  Streets,  and  work  may  now  be  started  inasmuch  as 
war  building  restrictions  have  been  removed. 

Public  Bathing  Beaches 

Additional  men's  and  women's  locker  rooms,  girls'  and  boys' 
locker  compartments  and  dressing  rooms,  with  the  additional 
plumbing  and  heating  work  required  were  installed  at  a  cost  of 
$50,000.00  in  the  existing  Clarendon  Municipal  Bathing  Beach; 
which  was  completed  for  the  1916  bathing  season,  and  consists 
of  an  attractive  Administration  pavilion  with  dressing  and  lockei 
compartment  facilities  on  each  side  of  the  pavilion.  It  is  the 
largest  and  most  modern  bathing  beach  in  the  city.  During  the 
year  1918  additional  laundry  equipment  was  installed  in  present 
laundry  building  and  also  new  recreation  grounds  were  provided 
at  the  North  end  of  the  Bathing  Beach  adjoining  the  locker  space. 


82  Department  of  Public  Works 

At  the  Hyde  Park  Bathing  Beach,  51st  street,  temporary 
accommodations  of  frame  and  concrete  construction  were  pro- 
\  ided,  the  construction  consisting  of  an  attendant's  building, 
lockers,  toilets,  etc.,  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $15,000.00 

At  the  South  Shore  Bathing  Beach,  buildings  were  removed 
to  clear  site  for  proposed  improvement,  for  which  drawings  were 
prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Bureau  of  Parks,  Public  Play- 
grounds and  Bathing  Beaches  for  further  consideration. 

Public  Playgrounds 

Forty-two  frame  stucco  exterior  one-story  office  buildings, 
with  open  Shelter  and  Sand  Court  with  brick  piers  were  erected 
at  various  playgrounds,  including  drainage  and  water  systems 
required  for  the  same,  at  a  cost  of  approximately  $3,500.00  each. 

Chicago  and  Cook  County  School  for  Boys 

At  the  Chicago  and  Cook  County  School  for  Boys,  located 
at  the  site  of  22nd  street  and  Harlem  avenue.  Riverside,  Illinois, 
additional  buildings  were  erected,  consisting  of  one  Dormitory, 
Dining  Hall  building.  Stable  and  Garage,  and  Boiler  House. 
These  buildings  are  of  semi-fireproof  construction  and  were  con- 
structed by  the  Bureau  of  Engineering,  Construction  Division,  at 
an  approxmiate  cost  of  $250,000.00.  The  dormitory  building  pro- 
vides sleeping  quarters  for  40  boys  on  the  second  floor,  and  a 
library,  playroom  with  lockers,  showers,  toilet  rooms,  and  attend- 
ant's quarters  on  the  first  floor.  The  Dining  Hall  contains  large 
toilet  and  wash  room,  accessible  from  exterior,  and  also  refrig- 
erating plant,  storerooms  in  the  basement  with  large  dining-room 
and  kitchen,  preparation  rooms,  pantries,  refrigeration  rooms,  and 
chef's  quarters  on  the  first  floor.  On  the  second  floor  temporary 
sleeping  quarters  for  40  boys  are  provided  with  locker  and  toilet 
room  facilities. 

In  the  boiler  and  power  house,  the  main  heating  plant,  work- 
shops, and  laundry  equipment  were  installed.  The  layout  of  new 
l)uildings,  contemplates  further  development,  such  as  greenhouse, 
open  swimming  pool,  poultry  houses,  etc. 

Public  Comfort  Stations 

In  the  year  1916  two  underground  Public  Comfort  Stations 
were  erected  at  the  Public  Library.  The  Men's  entrance  is  lo- 
cated on  Gault  Court  near  Randolph  street,  and  the  Women's  en- 


Department  of  Public  Works 


83 


84  Department  of  Public  Works 

trance  near  Washington  street  on  Gault  Court.  The  above  com- 
fort stations  were  completed  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $25,- 
000.00. 

A  one-story  PubHc  Comfort  Station  for  men  and  women  with 
provision  for  renting  space  and  attendant  is  being  erected  at  the 
site  of  Market  and  Madison  streets,  at  an  approximate  cost  of 
$10,000.00.  An  underground  Public  Comfort  Station  of  concrete 
submerged  ornamental  type  was  erected  in  the  East  End  Park, 
53rd  St.  and  East  End  Ave.,  at  an  approximate  cost  of  $4,000.00. 

Pcndiui;  the  results  of  maintenance  and  operation  of  the 
Comfort  Station  now  nearing  completion  at  Madison  and  Market 
streets,  five  additional  comfort  stations  will  be  erected,  for  which 
drawings  ha\e  been  prepared  for  approval  at  following  proposed 
sites:  .Vshland  and  Milwaukee  Aves. ;  Clark  and  Division  Sts. ; 
93rd  St.  and  Commercial  Ave.;  12th  St.  and  Ashland  Ave.;  Oak 
St.  and  Lake  Shore. 

The  following  summary  shows  buildings  completed  which 
were  in  the  course  of  construction  during  the  19 15  and  also 
buildings  erected  for  various  departments  during  the  period  from 
1915  to  1918,  inclusive,  at  the  following  approximate  costs: 

Municipal  Contagious  Disease  Hospital — 

Administration    Building,    Ward    Building   No.    3    and 

Power  House    $  550,000.00 

Kitchen   and   Service  Building,  Ward   Building  No.  2 

and   Corridors    835,000.00 

Three  Public  Bath  Buildings   210,000.00 

Six  Police  Stations 430,000.00 

Eleven  Fire  Department  Buildings    336,000.00 

Two  Electrical   Sub-Stations    50,000.00 

Clarendon    Municipal    Bathing   Beach 300,000.00 

Additions     50,000.00 

Hyde    Park    Beach,   51st    Street 15,000.00 

42  Playground  office  buildings  and  improvements 150,000.00 

Mayfair    Pumping    Station     500,000.00 

Municipal    Power   and    Boiler    House    25,000.00 

Chicago  and  Cook  County  School  for  Boys — 

Dormitory    and    Superintendent's    residence 60,000.00 

Dormitory,    Dining    Hall,    Stable    and    Garage,    Boiler 

House     250,000.00 

Four  Public   Comfort   Stations    40,000.00 


$3,801,000.00 


Department  of  Public  Works  85 

Board  of  Examining  Engineers 

The  receipts  for  the  year  1918  were  $18,000.00,  a  slight 
increase  over  the  preceding  year.  The  disbursements  were 
$11,000.00,  leaving  a  net  revenue  of  $7,000.00  derived  from  this 
source. 

During  the  year  the  board  examined  940  applicants  for 
engineers'  licenses  and  268  candidates  for  water  tenders'  licenses. 


\ 


DEPARTMENT  OF  BUILDINGS 

Charles  Bostrom,  Commissioner 

yT    is    gratifying    to  y^^^ZT^         report  that  within  the 

last  four  years  /jIPWH^  \  ^^^  one  death  or  se- 
rious accident  has  oc-  /  W^  ^^m  \  purred  in  any  theatre, 
picture  house  or  other  /  -t  "^  "  \  place  of  entertain- 
ment in  this  city.  The  /  \  significance  of  this  to 
the  public  becomes  w^^  apparant  when  it  is 
considered  that  ap-  \  ^ir*  ^^^^.  /  proximately  2,000,000 
patrons  visit  these  \  ^B  ^^^^Hy  places  each  week  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  X^^^Kj^^^H^  of  the  season.  It  is 
also  gratifying  to  ^^S^^^K^  "°*-^  *^^^  there  has 
been  no  loss  of  life  ^^^^^^  during  the  last  four 
years  by  fires  in  apartment  buildings,  factories,  schools,  churches, 
hospitals,  sanitariums  or  other  buildings  used  for  public  assem- 
bly and  there  have  been  no  deaths  or  serious  accidents  caused  by 
collapse  due  to  improper  construction. 

The  following  charts  present  briefly  some  of  the  important 
activities  of  the  department,  together  with  the  earnings  and  ex- 
penditures : 

Chart  No.  i  of  building  activities  shows  the  value  of  the 
buildings  erected  since  1905  in  millions  of  dollars  and  the  num- 
ber of  miles  of  frontage  for  each  year. 

Chart  No.  2  is  a  detailed  diagram  of  building  operations  from 
1912  to  1918  inclusive.  This  shows  the  total  number  of  buildings 
erected  each  year  and  the  value  of  the  same.  It  is  probably 
unnecessary  to  call  the  readers'  attention  to  the  marked  decline 
since  1916,  resulting  from  the  war  and  the  consequent  inability 
to  obtain  material. 

Chart  No.  3  is  a  comparison  of  expenses,  appropriations  and 
revenues  from  1912  to  1918  inclusive.  This  chart  brings  out  the 
excess  of  revenue  as  compared  to  expenses  and  appropriations 
and  shows  graphically  the  reduction  in  revenue  to  the  city  occa- 
sioned by  the  reduction  in  the  inspection  force  of  the  department. 

Chart  "A"  of  No.  3  shows  by  yearly  periods  a  comparison  of 
three  sources  of  revenue,  viz.,  the  income  from  building  permits; 
the  income    from   fees   for  annual   insi)ection   of  buildings,  bill- 

86 


Department  of  Buildings 


87 


boards  and  sign  boards,  and  the  income  from  fees  for  the  semi- 
annual inspection  of  elevators. 

Chart  "B"  of  No.  3  shows  the  number  of  inspections  made  by 
the  department  separated  into  field,  annual  and  elevator  inspec 
tions. 

Chart  "C"  of  No.  3  sets  forth  the  number  of  inspectors 
engaged  in  each  of  the  revenue  producing  inspections  and  the 
number  engaged  inspecting  the  construction  of  new  buildings, 
viz.,  field  inspection. 

There  are  thousands  of  buildings  remaining  this  year  that 
must  be  left  uninspected  owing  to  the  insufficiency  of  the  present 
force.  This  situation  is  a  menace  to  public  safety  and  should  be 
corrected  at  the  earliest  possible  moment.  Incidentally  it  causes  a 
material  loss  to  the  city's  revenue,  much  greater  than  the  saving 
efi^ected  in  reducing  the  inspection  force. 


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OFFICE  OF  THE  INSPECTOR  OF  OILS 

Hugh  Norris,  Chief  Inspector 

WING    to     the 


tions  prevailing 
their  relations  to  the 
dustries,  the  inspec- 
this  department  were 
year,  when,  under 
they  should  have 
increase.  There  were 
for  the  decreases 
severe  snow  storms  of 
practically    paralyzed 


extraordinary  condi- 
during  the  year  and 
gasoline  and  oil  in- 
tions  and  receipts  of 
less  than  the  previous 
ordinary  conditions, 
shown  a  substantial 
two  particular  causes 
mentioned.  First,  the 
January  last,  which 
motor  traffic.     This 


caused  a  decrease  of  35,000  barrels  in  the  number  of  inspections 
as  compared  to  the  month  of  January,  19 17.  The  other  cause 
was  the  five  gasless  Sundays  during  the  summer,  which  reduced 
our  record  of  inspections  about  45,000  barrels  during  that  period. 

The  tests  made  during  the  year  showed  that  the  quality  of 
gasoline  sold  has,  as  a  rule,  been  very  good  and  a  smaller  number 
of  complaints  have  been  received  and  fewer  requests  by  indi- 
viduals for  tests  of  samples  submitted.  The  Oil  Companies  doing 
business  in  Chicago  are  endeavoring  to  maintain  a  high  quality  of 
gasoline  for  motor  use. 

Another  cause  for  the  low  number  of  complaints  is  attribut- 
able to  the  system  of  visiting  and  taking  samples  of  gasoline  from 
garages  that  sell  to  the  public.  We  are  considerably  handicapped 
in  this  branch  of  our  service,  owing  to  the  limited  amount  of 
help,  the  department  having  only  four  inspectors  to  cover  the 
whole  city,  and  wc  could  use  at  least  two  more  inspectors  to 
carry  on  this  work  properly. 

During  the  period  beginning  January  i,  and  ending  Novem- 
ber 30,  1918,  the  inspection  record  of  this  department  is  as 
follows : 

Bbls. 
Inspected 

January     84,152 

February     107,512 

March     121,931 

90 


Expenses 

$   1,214.30 

1,250.92 

1,325.00 


Receipts 

$  5,049.12 

6,450.72 

7,315.86 


Inspector  of  Oils  91 


Bbls. 

Inspected  Expenses  Receipts 

April     125,301  $1,230.00  $7,518.06 

May     130,631  1,294.60  7,837.86 

June .     141,651  1,230.00  8,499.06 

July     145,125  1,258.19  8,707.50 

August     134,820  1,317.27  8,089.20 

September    119,395  1,230.00  7,163.58 

October     132,440  1,230.00  7,946.40 

November     113,748  1,347.10  6,824.88 

1,356,704  $13,927.08         $81,402.24 

Total  number  of  barrels  Gas,  Oil,  and  Nap.  Inspected,  January  1  to 

November    30    1,356,704 

Receipts  Jan.    1  to  Nov.   30 $81,402.24 

Expenses  Jan.    1   to  Nov.   30 13,927.38 

Total    net    receipts    $67,474.86 


DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SERVICE 

John  P.  Garner.  Commissioner 

T^HE    primary    rea-  ^         ^x.  son  for  the  establish- 

^  ment  of  the  De-  /^l[BH^^\  partment  of  Public 
Service  by  the  City  of  /  f  ^^^^^\  ^^"^^^^^0  ^^  ^°  ^"^^^^  ^ 
place  wherein  citizens  /  ^  ^^^^B  \  may  make  complaints 
against    public    utility  /  ^^l^^P    1  corporations  and  have 

their  interests  pro-  J^L,*  ^^M  tected. 

The    duties    im-  I  ^^mP^    /  Posed  on  this  depart- 

m  e  n  t    by    ordinance  \  '^^^^^^j   are  : 

1.  To  enforce  all  XJtSjb^  ^^^Km  ordinances,  orders 
and  resolutions  in  re-  ^^j^^Kf^^  spect  to  Public  Utili- 
ties now  or  hereafter  in  force  in  the  City 
of  Chicago. 

2.  To  see  that  the  citizens  of  Chicago  receive  without  dis- 
crimination the  service  to  which  they  are  entitled  from  the  public 
utilities  supplying  any  service  or  commodity  to  the  City  or  its 
inhabitants. 

3.  To  determine  by  inspection  and  test  whether  the  quality 
of  service  furnished  is  in  accordance  with  the  standards  as  re- 
quired by  ordinances. 

4.  To  determine  whether  the  rate  charged  for  the  quality  of 
service  received  is  in  accordance  with  the  ordinances  of  the  City 
of  Chicago. 

5.  To  receive  all  complaints  against  any  public  utility  relat- 
ing to  any  service  supplied  or  relating  to  any  rate  or  charge 
therefor,  and  to  take  such  action  in  the  adjustments  of  such  com- 
plaints as  the  circumstances  may  warrant  or  require  and  to  report 
all  violations  to  the  City  Council. 

That  the  general  public  is  taking  advantage  of  the  service 
rendered  by  the  department  is  evidenced  by  the  daily  increase 
of  complaints  filed  for  adjustment.  Formerly  the  number  of 
complaints  received  averaged  from  15  to  20  per  day;  this  num- 
ber during  the  last  year  has  increased  and  at  present  averages 
over  200  per  day.  This  is  a  result  of  the  consumers  being  dis- 
satisfied with  the  service  and  treatment  received  at  the  hands  of 
the  public  utilities  corporations.     A  necessity  for  the  department 

92 


Department  of  Public  Service  93 

is  shown  by  the  thousands  of  complaints  that  have  been  received 
and  adjusted  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  complainants.  A  large 
per  cent,  of  these  complaints  has  been  against  the  Peoples  Gas 
Light  and  Coke  Company.  Investigation  of  these  complaints 
reveals  that  through  inefficient  bookkeeping,  faulty  reading  of 
meters,  and  careless  business  methods,  consumers  have  been  sent 
exorbitant  bills,  and  through  the  efforts  of  this  department  man} 
refunds  have  been  made  to  the  consumer. 

Another  important  feature  has  been  the  assistance  rendered 
the  City  Council  and  its  committees  on  matters  concerning  public 
service  corporations.  Heretofore  large  sums  of  money  have 
been  paid,  and  are  still  being  paid,  to  outside  engineering  con 
cerns,  experts,  etc.,  for  consultation  and  advice,  but  this  depart 
ment  is  gradually  taking  on  this  work  with  a  resulting  saving  to 
the  city. 

The  majority  of  the  complaints  on  transportation  matters 
arises  from  the  Committee  on  Local  Transportation.  Where  a 
matter  concerns  lack  of  service,  irregularity  of  service,  or  failure 
to  provide  equipment,  this  department  is  called  upon  for  a 
complete  check  which  is  made  by  the  Transportation  Bureau,  and 
the  action  taken  by  the  Local  Transportation  Committee  is  gen 
erally  based  on  the  recommendations  of  this  bureau.  Practicall) 
the  same  assistance  has  been  rendered  the  Committee  on  Gas, 
Oil  and  Electric  Light  in  work  which  comes  under  the  jurisdic 
tion  of  the  Gas,  Telephone  and  Electric  bureaus. 

GAS  BUREAU 

Between  January  i,  1918,  and  December  i,  1918,  this  bureau 
has  received  a  total  of  4,773  complaints,  of  which  617  were  meter 
tests  on  complaint  of  the  consumer;  4,156  were  miscellaneous 
complaints  concerning  excessive  charges,  erroneous  charges  and 
duplicate  charges.  The  Gas  Testing  Division  in  its  four  labora 
tories  has  made  2,500  candle  power  tests,  and  2,500  heat  unit 
tests ;  also  a  number  of  gas  quality  analyses  whenever  the  occa 
sion  demanded.  A  total  of  560  gas  pressure  charges  were 
changed  during  this  period.  A  total  of  1 14,599  meters  were  tested 
before  the  installation  in  the  consumers'  premises. 

The  Gas   Inspection  Division  of  this  department  has  filed 
with  the  Peoples  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company,  in  accordance 


94  Department  of  Public  Service 


with  the  City  Ordinance  of  June  25,  1917,  claims  for  damages 
for  furnishing  gas  of  a  lower  standard  than  required  for  large 
sums. 

Since  the  first  of  July,  1918,  this  Department  has  received 
many  complaints  of  monthly  bills  for  gas  and  has  done  what 
it  could  to  correct  them  for  the  consumer. 

TELEPHONE  BUREAU 

This  bureau  has  been  called  upon  by  the  City  Council 
during  the  past  year  to  conduct  the  necessary  engineering  investi 
gation  of  telephones.  In  six  months  the  great  bulk  of  the  en- 
gineering work  necessary  for  the  consideration  of  the  revision 
of  the  telephone  rates  which  is  now  pending  before  the  Council 
Committee  has  been  practically  completed.  From  $20,000.00  to 
$40,000.00  has  been  saved  the  City  by  referring  this  engineering 
item  to  the  City's  own  organization,  instead  of  to  outside  en- 
gineers, experts  and  special  investigators,  besides  retaining  in  the 
City's  files  valuable  collective  data  which  would  not  otherwise 
be  available. 

TRANSPORTATION  BUREAU 

In  response  to  requests,  forty-four  reports  relating  to  service 
conditions  in  various  parts  of  the  city  have  been  made  during 
the  past  year  to  the  Council  Committee  on  Local  Transportation, 

The  Corporation  Counsel's  Office  was  furnished  such  evi- 
dence and  information  in  the  City's  effort  to  prevent  Elevated 
Railroad  fares  from  being  increased  to  seven  cents. 

A  considerable  amount  of  data  has  been  collected,  compiled 
and  tabulated  in  such  form  that  it  enables  the  City  to  have  a  very 
definite  knowledge  of  the  traffic  and  service  conditions  existing  in 
all  parts  of  the  City.  The  chart  on  page  95  will  show  the  service 
and  traffic  conditions  during  the  rush  periods  on  the  Chicago 
Surface  Lines'  Western  Avenue  Line — conditions  which  are  typi- 
cal of  those  on  a  great  many  of  the  street  railway  lines. 

ELECTRIC  BUREAU 

A  large  number  of  complaints  received  from  consumers  relat- 
ing to  matters  pertaining  to  electrical  service,  contracts,  bills, 
service  extensions,  methods  of  measurement  and  meter  accuracy 
were  handled  by  this  bureau. 


Department  of  Public  Service 


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96  Department  of  Public  Service 


This  Bureau  during  the  past  year  has  tested  and  adjusted 
8,i6i  Standards  used  by  the  Commonwealth  Edison  Company  for 
the  testing  of  their  electric  meters ;  33  standards  used  by  isolated 
plan  operators,  and  approximately  150  complaint  meter  tests 
requested  by  consumers.  The  Bureau  has  been  of  assistance  to 
other  Departments  of  the  City  in  adjusting  bills  rendered  for 
service  furnished,  and  calibrating  and  adjusting  instruments  used 
and  in  testing,  adjusting,  and  repairing  electric  meters  used  by 
the  various  departments. 

The  revenue  collected  by  this  Bureau  through  City  Ordin- 
ance, calibration  of  electrical  standards,  and  electric  meter  tests, 
amounted  to  $6,600.77 ;  saving  to  various  City  Departments 
through  the  testing  of  electrical  apparatus  by  this  Bureau 
amounted  to  a  considerable  sum.  The  saving  to  consumers 
through  recommendations  submitted  by  this  Bureau  amounted  to 
large  sums.  Refunds  to  consumers  as  a  result  of  our  investiga- 
tions amount  to  considerable. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  GAS  AND  ELECTRICITY 

William  G.  Keith,  Commissioner 


'X^HE  main  purpose 
to  construct, 
the  municipal  street 
on  December  i,  1918, 
street  lights  of  all 
i  t  i  e  s  include  the 
trical  wiring  installa- 
electrical  fire  hazard, 
eration  and  mainte- 
alarm  and  police  tele- 
nstallation  of  interior 
required  by  other  municipal  departments. 


of  this  department  is 
maintain  and  operate 
ighting  system  which 
consisted  of  63,432 
types.  Other  activ- 
inspection  of  all  elec- 
tions to  diminish  the 
the  construction,  op- 
nance  of  the  fire 
^raph  system,  and  the 
electrical  construction 


ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Completed  the  construction  for  14,336  additional  electric 
street  lights  during  1916,  1917,  and  1918. 

Operated   electric   street  lights   in    1918  at  a  total   cost  of 
$975,000.00,  which  service  if  purchased  from  public  utility  cor 
porations,  would  have  required  an  expenditure  of  $1,945,000.00. 
representing  a  saving  to  the  people  of  Chicago  of  almost  a  mil 
lion  dollars  a  year.     (See  "Service  and  Cost  Curves"  Chart  on 
Electric  Street  Lighting.) 

Increased  the  efficiency  of  the  system  so  that  more  light  01 
"lumens"  are  procured  with  the  same  expenditure.     (See  "Dol 
lars  per  1000  Lumens  Curves.")     A  "lumen"  is  that  quantity  of 
light  which  will  illuminate  a  surface  of  one  square  foot  at  a  dis 
tance  of  one  foot  from  a  source  of  light  having  an  intensity  of 
one  candle  power. 

Greatly  increased  the  amount  of  light  or  "lumens"  per  capita 
(See  "Lumens  per  Capita  Curves.") 

The  previous  benefits  have  been  derived  at  a  very  low  in 
crease  in  cost  per  capita.     (See  "Dollars  per  Capita  Curves.") 

Discarded  the  old  flame  arc  system  of  street  lighting  and 
replaced  these  units  with  Type  "C"  Mazda  incandescent  gas-filled 
600  candle  power  units,  efifecting  on  this  feature  alone  a  saving 
of  $150,000.00  a  year  in  operation  and  maintenance. 

97 


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Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity  101 

BOND  ISSUE  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  EXTENSION 

(a)      Financial 

Amount  of  bond  issue $3,750,000.00 

Expenditure    in    1916    22,498.94 

Expenditure   in   1917    1,666,181.84 

Expenditure  in  1918  to  Nov.  30 948,918.39 

Total    expenditure,    1916-1917-1918    2,637,599.17 

Unexpended    balance    1,112,400.00 

(b)      Construction 

Construction  has  been  completed  for  13,804  small  units  (100 
candle  power)  (see  photograph),  and  532  large  units  (600  candle 
power.)  The  small  units  have  been  installed  in  the  Northwest 
section  of  the  city,  in  Austin,  and  on  the  south  side  generall}- 
south  of  Garfield  boulevard.  The  large  units  have  been  installed 
on  street  car  line  streets  in  the  Northwest  district,  in  Austin,  and 
at  isolated  locations  throughout  the  city. 

Two  new  sub-stations  have  been  constructed,  the  Northwesi 
Sub-station  located  at  No.  4531-3  Keokuk  avenue  (see  photo- 
graph), and  the  South  Chicago  Sub-station  at  No.  8645-9  Yates 
avenue. 

To  appreciate  the  magnitude  of  this  construction,  it  may  be 
stated  that  in  this  work  there  has  been  installed: 

Duct  f-et  of  conduit    802,504.8 

Manholes     602 

Duct  feet  of  laterals    '. 33,456.2 

Square  yards  of  paving   12,439.6 

Square  yards  of   resodding    5,780.7 

Duct  feet  of  fibre  lateral   157,600.7 

Lamp  standard  and  foundations   13,804 

Feet  of  600  volt  lead  covered,  jute  covered  cable 2,346,303.7 

Feet  of  5,000  volt  lead  covered  armored  cable 222,525 

Transformers    485 

Feet  of  lead  covered  feeder  cable 179,756.2 

Feet  of  single  conductor  cable   225,585.8 

Feet  of  3-conductor  transmission   cable    88,124.3 

BUREAU  OF  OPERATION 

This  bureau  was  organized  in  January,  1918,  to  operate  the 
sub-stations  relinquished  by  the  Sanitary  District,  and  to  super- 
vise the  maintenance  of  the  street  lights.  The  $500,000.00  worth 
of  electrical  station  equipment  requires  constant  inspection,  ad- 
justments and  repairs,  making  necessary  a  force  of  instantlv 
available  engineers  and  rei)airmen. 


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Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity  101 

BOND  ISSUE  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  EXTENSION 

(a)      Financial 

Amount  of  bond  issue $3,750,000.00 

Expenditure    in    1916    22,498.94 

Expenditure   in   1917    1,666,181.84 

Expenditure  in  1918  to  Nov.  30 948,918.39 

Total    expenditure,    1916-1917-1918    2,637,599.17 

Unexpended    balance    1,112,400.00 

(b)      Construction 

Construction  has  been  completed  for  13,804  small  units  (100 
candle  power)  (see  photograph),  and  532  large  units  (600  candle 
power.)  The  small  units  have  been  installed  in  the  Northwest 
section  of  the  city,  in  Austin,  and  on  the  south  side  generall}' 
south  of  Garfield  boulevard.  The  large  units  have  been  installed 
on  street  car  line  streets  in  the  Northwest  district,  in  Austin,  and 
at  isolated  locations  throughout  the  city. 

Two  new  sub-stations  have  been  constructed,  the  Northwest 
Sub-station  located  at  No.  4531-3  Keokuk  avenue  (see  photo- 
graph), and  the  South  Chicago  Sub-station  at  No.  8645-9  Yates 
avenue. 

To  appreciate  the  magnitude  of  this  construction,  it  may  be 
stated  that  in  this  work  there  has  been  installed : 

Duct  f'jet  of  conduit    802,504.8 

Manholes     602 

Duct  feet  of  laterals    ; 33,456.2 

Square  yards  of  paving   12,439.6 

Square  yards  of   resodding   5,780.7 

Duct  feet  of  fibre  lateral   . 157,600.7 

Lamp  standard  and  foundations   13,804 

Feet  of  600  volt  lead  covered,  jute  covered  cable 2,346,303.7 

Feet  of  5,000  volt  lead  covered  armored  cable 222,525 

Transformers    485 

Feet  of  lead  covered  feeder  cable 179,756.2 

Feet  of  sing-le  conductor  cable   225,585.8 

Feet  of  3-conductor  transmission   cable    88,124.3 

BUREAU  OF  OPERATION 

This  bureau  was  organized  in  January,  1918,  to  operate  the 
sub-stations  relinquished  by  the  Sanitary  District,  and  to  super- 
vise the  maintenance  of  the  street  lights.  The  $500,000.00  worth 
of  electrical  station  equipment  requires  constant  inspection,  ad- 
justments and  repairs,  making  necessary  a  force  of  instantiv 
available  engineers  and  repairmen. 


102 


Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity 


New  lamp  design. 


Department  of  Gas  and  Electricity  103 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  lights  maintained  and 
operated  by  the  bureau  on  December  i,  1918: 

600  C.P.,  Type  "C"  lamps   24,487 

100  C.P.,  Type  "C"  lamps   20,165 

Subway  lights  (under  railroad  viaducts)    1,323 

Total    45,975 

This  represents  an  increase  of  10,585  electric  lights  over  the 

number  operated  on  January  i,  1918. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  department  rents  1,651  electric, 

6,593  §3-s  and  4,483  gasoline  street  lights,  and  4,730  incandescent 

electric  lamps  under  railroad  viaducts. 

BUREAU  OF  ELECTRICAL  INSPECTION 

This  bureau  supervises  the  installation  of  all  kinds  of  elec- 
trical wiring  throughout  the  city.  The  main  purpose  of  these 
inspections  is  to  safeguard  the  public  against  "electrical  fires." 
How  well  this  object  has  been  accomplished  is  indicated  in  the 
accompanying  curve,  which  shows  the  number  of  "electrical  fires" 
occurring  per  year  for  each  one  hundred  thousand  (100,000) 
incandescent  lamps  in  use  in  offices,  stores,  residences  and  fac- 
tories. 

The  curve  covers  the  years  1910  to  1917  inclusive.  In  1910 
there  were  4,446,343  incandescent  lamps  in  use,  and  during  this 
year  there  were  80  electrical  fires.  In  1917  there  were  9,783,546 
incandescent  lamps  in  use  and  only  57  electrical  fires,  or  rela- 
tively one-third  of  the  number  in  1910. 

BUREAU  OF  FIRE  ALARM  AND  POLICE 
TELEGRAPH 

During  the  eleven  months  of  the  year  there  were  transmitted 
15,923  alarms  of  fire,  an  average  of  1,447  P^r  month.  On  Mon- 
day, November  11,  "Armistice  Day,"  there  were  246  alarms  of 
fire,  the  greatest  number  for  any  one  day  in  the  history  of  the 
bureau. 

The  usual  efficient  and  effective  service  of  these  systems  has 
been  maintained  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  equipment  has 
depreciated  due  to  lack  of  adequate  appropriation  for  repairs. 

BUREAU  OF  INTERIOR  WIRING  AND  REPAIRS 

This  bureau  has  performed  work  during  the  year  amounting 
to  $111,346.39. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WELFARE 

Louise  Osborne  Rowe,  Commissioner 

'T'HE  Department  ^^^1^^^.  °^  Public  Welfare 
-*-  of  the  City  of  ,^|^^^^|^,  Chicago  has  two 
principal  functions.  J^KtK/K^K^  First,  through  its 
surveys  and  /j^Kt^^^^^^tk  investigations,  i  t 
ascertains  actual  /^^^K  ~  "  ^^^^H\  conditions  in  our 
city ;  and,  through  l^^^^^'^  ?'^^^B  ^'^^  findings  of  these 
surveys  and  V|^^^^  *  '^B;  iii'^estigations,  suit- 
able laws  and  \^  ^/  ordinances  are 
drafted,  thus  \  /  providing  a  proper 
and  effective  \f  j  J^  solution  of  condi- 
tions that  retard  the  ^ ^-""^  progress  and  devel- 
opment of  the  economic,  industrial  and  social  life  of  our  citizens. 

The  second  function  has  been  developed  to  meet  certain  prac- 
tical demands  made  upon  the  Department,  such  as  securing  em- 
ployment for  specific  types  of  cases ;  in  administering  social 
service  to  the  women  inmates  at  the  House  of  Correction ;  direct- 
ing appeals  made  to  the  Department  for  aid,  relief,  etc.,  to  the 
proper  sources;  supplying  practical,  scientific  and  general  infor- 
mation to  citizens,  officials  and  social  agencies  regarding  social 
subjects  and  welfare  activities;  and  in  stimulating  and  encourag- 
ing community  spirit  through  its  Garden  Bureau,  and  through  its 
co-operation  with  other  public  and  private  social  agencies  work- 
ing in  the  interest  of  the  difterent  communities. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  principal  results  of  the 
Department  activities  from  May  i8,  1915,  to  December  i,  1918: 

The  Bureau  made  a  survey  of  the  Loan  Shark  situation, 
which  exposed  their  methods  and  pernicious  Clearing  House. 
We  organized  committees  of  interested  citizens  and  introduced 
a  model  loan  shark  bill  into  the  legislature  of  Illinois.  The  Bill 
was  passed  and  is  now  in  force. 

A  survey  was  also  made  of  Public  Comfort  Station  Facilities 
of  Chicago  and  other  cities  during  the  summer  of  1916.  It  was 
the  most  complete  survey  of  its  kind  ever  attempted.  The  rec- 
ommendations and  plans  of  this  survey  were  adopted  by  the 
Committee  of  Health  of  the  City  Council.    Result:  A  Bond  Issue 

104 


Department  of  Public  Welfare 


105 


106  Department  of  Public  Welfare 

providing  more  adequate  facilities  for  the  city  was  presented  to 
the  voters  and  passed,  and  sites  were  selected  for  the  stations  to 
be  erected. 

We  made  a  study  of  the  Chicago  boys  paroled  from  St. 
Charles  School.  Result :  The  recommendations  attracted  the 
attention  of  state  officials  and  the  number  of  probation  officers 
of  the  state  was  increased. 

We  also  introduced  an  ordinance  into  the  City  Council  for 
the  establishment  of  a  Municipal  Boys'  Club,  to  care  for  the 
boys  brought  into  the  Juvenile  and  Boys'  Courts  as  offenders  or 
witnesses,  for  the  purpose  of  segregating  them  from  habitues  of 
the  jails  until  such  time  as  their  cases  were  properly  disposed  of. 
The  Council  referred  the  ordinance  to  a  Council  Committee, 
which  tabled  the  same. 

The  Department  published  an  extensive  study  on  family 
desertion  and  now  have  the  following  additional  surveys  ready 
for  publication  and  in  progress :  Study  of  Recidivists  in  Boys' 
Court;  a  Study  of  Case  Record  Forms;  City  Wide  Survey  of 
the  Handicapped  of  Chicago ;  a  Survey  of  Chicago's  Negro 
Population ;  a  Study  of  the  Poles  in  Chicago. 

The  Department  established  the  first  Municipal  Free  Em- 
ployment Bureau  in  September,  191 5.  During  the  year  and  a 
half  of  its  operation  it  has  secured  over  25,000  jobs  for  men  and 
women. 

In  November,  191 5,  the  policy  of  the  Municipal  Lodging 
House  was  revolutionized  through  the  establishment  of  the 
Municipal  Wood  Yard,  and  through  extensive  propaganda 
throughout  the  Middle  West  warning  "hoboes"  and  "bums"  that 
they  would  be  compelled  to  saw  wood  two  hours  a  day  in  the 
wood  yard  before  being  given  meals  and  lodging.  The  first 
season  19,845  men  were  sent  to  the  Municipal  Wood  Yard. 
Through  this  new  and  rigidly  enforced  policy,  the  cost  to  the 
city  of  operating  the  Municipal  Lodging  House  this  season  was 
$40,000.00  less  than  the  previous  year.  Over  500  cords  of  wood 
were  distributed  to  worthy  families  at  Christmas  time  as  a  result 
of  this  work. 

Assigned  a  permanent  representative  of  the  Department  to 
the  Municipal  Lodging  House  to  assist  men  and  boys  in  numer- 
ous ways  who  were  forced  to  appeal  to  the  city  for  temporary 
shelter.     Over  500  men  were  placed  in  "jobs" ;  numerous  boys 


Department  of  Public  Welfare 


107 


Illustrating   garden    movement   activities   in    Chicago   from   the   headquarters    of   the 
bureau  in  the  Mayor's  office. 


108  Department  of  tPublic  Welfare 

returned  to  their  homes,  and  innumerable  other  personal  services 
were  rendered  to  them. 

We  also  inaugurated  religious  services  of  all  creeds  in  the 
institution  every  Sunday  afternoon  throughout  the  entire  season. 
Average  attendance,  lOO. 

During  the  year  of  1915  there  was  created  within  the  Depart- 
ment a  Bureau  of  Information.  Over  2,850  personal  applica- 
tions, written  requests  and  telephone  communications  for  aid, 
advice,  relief  and  miscellaneous  information  were  received  and 
disposed  of. 

This  Bureau  has  compiled  a  Social  Service  Directory  of  all 
public  and  private  social  agencies  and  institutions  in  the  city, 
county  and  state.  Two  editions  have  been  published  and  7,000 
copies  distributed. 

We  are  keeping  a  current  Social  Survey  Catalogue,  which 
is  a  bibliography  of  Chicago.  This  catalogue  is  invaluable  as  a 
reference  for  those  seeking  information  regarding  surveys,  stud- 
ies or  investigations  made  or  in  progress  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

This  bureau  has  edited  and  published  twelve  bulletins,  sur- 
veys and  reports  of  the  activities  of  the  department,  and  has 
distributed  over  25,000  copies  of  these  publications. 

As  a  new  activity  within  the  bureau  we  established  during 
the  past  year  the  first  permanent  social  service  work  in  the 
Women's  Department  at  the  House  of  Correction,  ministering 
to  the  needs  of  500  women  within  this  period.  Through  the  valu- 
able information  and  data  secured  as  a  result  of  this  work,  the 
department  is  at  present  engaged  in  preparing  a  Bill  to  be  intro- 
duced into  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature  of  Illinois,  provid- 
ing for  the  adequate  care  and  commitment  of  various  types  of 
offenders. 

In  June,  1915,  the  Bureau  of  Gardens  was  established.  This 
was  the  first  Municipal  community  garden  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 
On  one  of  the  three  large  community  tracts,  products  valued  at 
$5,000.00  were  grown.  Ten  nationalities  were  represented  among 
the  plot  holders. 

In  1916  we  established  the  first  Municipal  Children's  Garden. 
Three  hundred  children  were  assigned  to  garden  plots. 

We  supervised  over  2,000  home  garden  plots  during  these 
two  seasons. 


Department  of  Priblic  Welfare 


109 


110  Department  of  Public  Welfare 


The  Garden  Bureau  was  a  big  factor  in  promoting  and 
stimulating  the  city-wide  garden  movement  which  followed. 

Financed  the  first  series  of  free  concerts  given  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chicago.  In  the  Fall  of  1915  eighteen  concerts  were 
given  in  three  high  schools  to  an  attendance  of  over  5,000  adults 
and  children. 

Financed  the  first  organized  community  choral  society  in  the 
City  of  Chicago. 

Secured  the  services  free  of  prominent  lecturers,  musicians, 
and  other  entertainers,  compiling  list  of  same  in  booklet  form, 
and  distributed  these  to  all  school  principals  and  educational  cen- 
ters in  the  city  for  use  in  community  center  work. 

Appropriations 

Prior  to  the  appointment  of  Mrs.  Rowe  to  office  the  Depart- 
ment was  in  existence  less  than  a  year,  consequently  few  results 
had  been  attained  and  no  definite  program  of  work  outlined. 
Less  than  five  months  before  she  becani  ethe  Department's  head, 
the  City  Council  voted  the  first  and  largest  annual  appropriation 
the  Department  has  ever  received. 

In  spite  of  the  work  and  program  put  into  effect,  the  19 16 
appropriation  was  reduced  approximately  25  per  cent  under  the 
first  appropriation.  With  additional  activities  and  a  more  far- 
reaching  program,  the  1917  appropriation  was  cut  75  per  cent, 
and  the  1918  was  reduced  approximately  55  per  cent. 

The  important  activities  and  accomplishments  of  the  Depart- 
ment demonstrate  the  value  and  usefulness  of  such  a  department 
to  the  community. 


Department  of  Public  Welfare 


111 


DEPARTMENT  OF  SMOKE  INSPECTION 

William  H.  Reid,  Smoke  Inspector 


the  fuel  situation  that 
Chicago  since  the  be- 
season  of  1917,  the 
through  the  poHcy 
partment  of  Smoke 
gratifying.  During 
throughout  the  entire 
has  been  a  stringency 
in  Chicago  resuUing, 
from  the  supply  of 
practically    exhausted 


pONSIDER  I  N  G 

has  confronted 
ginning  of  the  heating 
results  obtained 
adhered  to  by  the  De- 
Inspection  has  been 
this  period,  as  well  as 
year  of  1917,  there 
in  the  coal  situation 
during  the  past  year, 
smokeless  coal  being 
and  compelling  the  use  of  Illinois  and  Indiana  coals  exclusively 
in  both  power  and  heating  plants  and,  to  a  very  large  extent,  in 
private  residences. 

During  this  time  the  Department  has  co-operated  with  the 
United  States  Fuel  Administration  of  Illinois  in  educating  plant 
owners  in  the  proper  methods  to  be  employed  in  conserving  coal, 
with  the  accompanying  result  that  the  smoke  nuisance  has  been 
lessened  considerably  more  than  would  be  expected,  taking  into 
consideration  the  quality  and  grade  of  fuel  burned.  The  mini- 
mizing of  the  smoke  nuisance  is,  in  the  opinion  of  engineering 
authorities,  one  of  the  most  practical  fields  where  fuel  conserva- 
tion can  be  accomplished  and,  as  can  be  seen  from  the  following 
extract  from  the  Association  of  Commerce  report,  the  Depart- 
ment has  secured  some  very  definite  and  concrete  results  along 
the  line  of  coal  saving. 

Chicago's  Problem  in  Smoke  Abatement  (Page  296) 

"Chicago  has  done  w^ell  in  providing  a  system  of  smoke 
inspection  and  in  directing  the  activities  of  this  bureau  along 
educative  lines.  The  city's  department  of  smoke  inspection  has 
rendered  good  service  to  the  public,  but  the  work  thus  far  ac- 
complished has  been  limited  in  character  and  is  insufficient  to 
satisfy  the  urgent  needs  of  the  city.  The  activities  of  the  depart- 
ment which  ought  to  be  city  wide,  are  now  limited  to  a  com- 
paratively small  portion  of  the  total  area  of  the  city,  and  its 

112 


Department  of  Smoke  Inspection  113 

program  of  procedure,  which  ought  to  include  investigations 
highly  scientific  in  character,  does  not,  under  present-day  condi- 
tions permit  the  inclusion  of  such  work.  The  city's  next  great 
step  in  its  effort  to  improve  atmospheric  conditions,  more  impor- 
tant than  all  which  have  thus  far  been  taken,  should  be  that  of 
providing  adequately  for  a  permanently  supported  work  of  re- 
search. A  pure  air  commission,  supported  by  the  municipality 
upon  a  scale  commensurate  with  the  needs  of  one  of  the  world's 
great  cities,  would  unravel  and  classify  the  complex  character- 
istics of  fuel;  it  would  develop  a  more  perfect  definition  of  con- 
ditions to  be  observed  in  the  use  of  each  fuel ;  it  would  be  serv- 
iceable in  placing  before  every  fuel  user  of  this  city  a  more 
perfect  code  governing  his  use  of  fuel ;  it  would  provide  a  per- 
manent organization  for  the  study  of  problems  which  are  con- 
stantly changing;  it  would  institute  a  safe  guide  for  new  legisla- 
tion ;  and  it  would  make  the  city  cooperatively  helpful  in  the 
development  of  its  largest  business  interest — its  coal-consuming 
industries." 

The  Smoke  Department  at  present  is  doing  practically  all  of 
this  work,  the  necessity  of  which  has  been  pointed  out,  on  a 
scale  corresponding  to  the  means  it  is  allowed. 

From  the  following  report  you  will  see  the  volume  of  work 
that  must  be  accomplished  by  the  small  number  of  men  assigned 
to  the  Department  and  the  almost  impossible  task  of  properly 
policing  the  stacks  in  the  City  and  investigating  complaints  from 
various  residence  wards  of  the  City. 

Annual  Fuel  Consumption  In  Chicago 

Total  tonnage   (from  statistics  of  the  U.  S.  Fuel  Adminis- 
tration)      30,000,000 

Bituminous    (soft  coal)     29,000,000 

Anthracite    (hard  coal)    1,000,000 

BITUMINOUS  COAL 

Domestic     5,000,000 

Railroad  Locomotives    3,000,000 

Power  plants  in  Loop  2,000,000 

Power  plants  outside  of  Loop,  boats,  spe- 
cial furnaces,  mills,  etc 19,000,000 

FUEL  BURNING  PLANTS 

(From   records   of   Boiler  Inspection   Department) 

Total  number  of  plants    21,000 

Power  plants   7,000 


114  Department  of  Smoke  Inspection 


Heating     plants      (excluding     residences 
and  apartment  buildings   containing 

three  apartments  and  less)    14,000 

Plants  per  district  covered  by  one  engineer 4,200 

Territory  covered — total  square  miles    194.4 

Square  miles  per  man  38.8 

A  very  serious  situation  has  arisen  menacing  both  the  health 
and  comfort  of  the  people  of  Chicago  and  causing  a  large  ex- 
pense to  property  owners  owing  to  the  destructive  effect  of 
smoke  and  gas,  as  well  as  requiring  the  renewal  of  decorating 
and  house  furnishings  at  considerably  more  than  normal  expense. 
This  condition  exists  at  the  present  time  and,  owing  to  orders 
issued  by  the  United  States  Fuel  Administration  which  deprives 
Chicago  of  its  usual  supply  of  Pocahontas  coal,  will  be  more  pro- 
nounced than  ever  during  the  coming  heating  season.  This  edict 
of  the  Fuel  Administration  will  compel  the  owners  of  heating 
plants,  such  as  are  installed  in  apartment  houses  and  residences, 
to  reply  upon  bituminous  coal  and  as  less  than  lo  per  cent  of  this 
class  of  plants  is  equipped  to  burn  this  grade  of  fuel  the  situation 
is  serious. 

A  vigorous  campaign  was  instituted  during  the  summer  of 
1917  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  the  apartment  house  owners 
in  an  effort  to  equip  this  class  of  buildings  so  that  Illinois  and 
Indiana  coals  could  be  burned  without  creating  dense  smoke  and 
violating  the  Smoke  Ordinance.  The  result  of  this  campaign  has 
been  that  several  thousand  heating  plants  have  been  equipped  so 
that  they  can  now  be  operated  within  the  requirements  of  the 
Ordinance,  but  as  there  are  approximately  25,000  low-pressure 
heating  plants  in  Chicago,  which  ordinarily  burn  smokeless  coal, 
the  furnaces  of  which  must  be  modified  before  tliey  can  be  oper- 
ated smokelessly  with  bituminous  coal,  an  enormous  task  con- 
fronts the  Smoke  Inspection  Department  to  carry  out  this  work. 
The  present  force  of  engineers  at  the  command  of  the  Smoke 
Inspector  is  inadequate  to  cope  with  the  situation  and  additional 
men  should  be  furnished  the  Department  to  carry  out  the  work 
during  the  coming  year.  If  more  Mechanical  Engineers  could  be 
employed  the  situation  could  be  materially  improved  in  the 
immediate  future. 


HOUSE  OF  CORRECTION 

Joseph  Siman,  Superintendent 


rpHE  Chicago 
was  established 
the  City  of  Chicago 
the  provisions  of  an 
Legislature,  approved 
187 1.  The  Institution 
covers  sixty  (60) 
total  valuation  of  real 
equipment  being 
uary  i,  1918.  The 
tion  in  1918  was  1,677 


House  of  Correction 
and  is  maintained  by 
in  accordance  with 
act  of  the  State 
and  in  force  July  i, 
at  the  present  time 
acres  of  ground.  The 
estate,  buildings  and 
$1,682,654.00  on  Jan- 
daily  average  popula- 
(a  decrease  from 


2,090,  which  was  the  daily  average  during  the  preceding  year)  ; 
the  average  period  of  detention  is  about  60  days.  Persons  are 
committed  here  for  violation  of  the  State  Statutes,  in  cases  of 
misdemeanor,  and  for  violation  of  the  City  Ordinances.  In  the 
latter  case  the  fine  imposed  is  worked  out  at  the  rate  of  fifty  (50) 
cents  per  day;  however,  the  maximum  term  of  imprisonment  for 
failure  to  pay  fine  is  fixed  at  six  months,  and  an  allowance  of 
three  days  per  month  is  made  for  good  conduct  if  the  limit  of 
imprisonment  is  served.  For  violation  of  the  State  Statutes  a 
fixed  sentence  is  imposed  by  the  Court,  the  maximum  being  one 
year.  For  violation  of  certain  sections  of  the  statutes  an  addi- 
tional fine  may  be  imposed,  which  if  not  paid,  may  be  worked  out 
at  the  rate  of  $1.50  per  day  after  sentence  has  been  served.  The 
law  providing  for  the  allowance  of  three  days  per  month  for  good 
conduct  also  covers  these  cases  if  confinement  is  for  six  months 
or  more.  We  board  prisoners  for  the  United  States,  the  County 
of  Cook,  and  other  authorities  in  the  County  committing  pris- 
oners. 

All  inmates  over  18  years  of  age  who  are  not  incapacitated 
from  work  by  sickness  or  old  age,  are  furnished  with  healthful 
employment,  the  principal  industries  being  those  that  furnish 
products  needed  and  to  be  used  by  the  City.  The  City  uses  a 
great  amount  of  crushed  stone  in  the  repair  and  building  of 
streets.    This  is  quarried,  crushed  and  loaded  in  the  cars  on  our 

115 


116 


House  of  Correction 


grounds  by  inmates  at  a  great  saving  to  the  city.  They  are  also 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sewer  brick  used  by  the  City ;  the 
clay  used  in  this  industry  being  excavated  within  the  walls  of 
the  Institution. 

A  printing  shop  is  also  conducted  where  most  of  the  City's 
printing  is  done. 

The  laundry  work  for  the  Police  and  Health  Departments  is 
done  here  at  a  great  advantage  to  those  departments. 

We  manufacture  all  clothing,  shoes,  etc.,  that  the  prisoners 
wear. 

We  make  all  permanent  improvements  to  buildings  and 
grounds  as  well  as  do  the  new  construction  work. 

During  the  coming  year  we  will  begin  activities  on  our  new 
"Farm  Colony"  and  "House  of  Shelter"  on  our  recently  pur- 
chased farm  site  of  371  acres  on  the  Chicago  and  Joliet  Highway, 
purchased  under  authority  of  Ordinance  passed  June  24,  19 18, 
and  as  previously  sanctioned  by  legislative  enactment  ratified  by 
popular  vote. 

Notwithstanding  the  smaller  number  of  inmates  during  1918, 
as  previously  noted,  and  the  setback  we  received  on  account  of 
illness  during  the  "influenza"  period,  our  receipts  averaged  quite 
up  to  those  of  last  year,  as  appears  from  the  statement  of  receipts 
and  expenditures  at  foot  hereof. 

Our  Brick  Yard  turned  out  2,600,000  brick.  We  produced 
and  crushed  19,000  yards  of  limestone  at  our  Quarry.  As  per 
arrangement  with  the  Street  Department  we  furnished  labor  of 
inmates  for  the  purpose  of  cleaning  alleys,  equivalent  to  11,100 
men-days.    Also   during  the  heavy   snowfall   early  in  the  year, 


House  of  Correction  117 

cleared  sidewalks  of  snow  around  22  Public  Schools.  We  un- 
loaded coal  for  various  City  institutions. 

Over  2,000  tons  of  pure  ice  was  harvested  from  our  institu- 
tion lake,  enough  for  our  own  purposes,  anl  leaving  a  surplus 
furnished  to  other  City  plants  and  hospitals  at  a  moderate  price. 

A  cinder  walk  was  laid  in  Sacramento  Avenue  from  26th 
Street  to  the  Dog  Pound,  a  distance  of  three  city  blocks,  greatly 
benefiting  the  public. 

An  innovation  was  the  wearing  of  uniforms  and  stars  by  the 
officers  of  the  institution.  All  our  guards  and  officials  are  now 
sworn  in  as  City  police  officers. 

Receipts  (11  Months) 

Sale  of  Brick   $  13,500.55 

Sale   of   Crushed   Stone    12,131.55 

Labor  of  Prisoners  for  other  City  Depts.,  etc 2,783.25 

Laundry  Work    (Police   and  Health   Departments) 4,538.50 

Boarding  Prisoners   (United  States  and  Cook  County,  etc.)    170,260.73 

Miscellaneous   receipts    2,027.65 

Receipts   from   12   Industries   operated   under   Capital   Ac- 
count         143,147.49 

Fines   collected    for    Municipal    Court    58,531.50 


$406,921.32 
Expenditures  (11  Months) 

Salaries     $105,300.40 

Personal    Services    1,595.05 

Provisions    (Food   Stuffs)    116,316.00 

Drugs  and    Hospital    Supplies    2,724.65 

Clothing    and    Dry    Goods     13,819.46 

Repair  Material,    Engineers'    Supplies,   etc 4,908.17 

Tools   and  Implemen1;s    262.67 

Miscellaneous  other  material    13,989.15 

Machinery  and  vehicles    495.98 

Repairs  by  contract    1,007.81 

Fuel,  Light  and  Power 49,937.68 

Furniture  and  Fixtures    521.45 

Printing  and   Stationery    (Postage  stamps   included) 851.89 

Impersonal  Services  and  Benefits   13,157.07 

Boarding-  female  offenders  in  House  of  Shelter 18,739.70 

Capital  Account   (including  salaries')    105,561.22 


$449,188.35 


BOARD  OF  LOCAL  IMPROVEMENTS 

Michael  J.  Faherty,  President 


The  Board  of  Local  Improvements  presents  herewith  a 
resume  of  its  work  for  1918,  as  follows : 

Paving  85.65  miles  of  streets  and  alleys  costing $4,716,388.00 

Sewers,  40.00  miles,  costing    400,000.00 

Sidewalks,  86.00   miles,    costing    51,000.00 

Drains,  3,900   House  Drains,   costing    54,000.00 

$5,221,388.00 

Special  Assessment  Work 

No.  Amount 

Public  hearings  held   for  paving,  sewers,  water 

mains,  openings  and  widenings   787     $10,076,709.84 

Ordinances   prepared    and    passed    by    the    City 

Council    1,367 

Petitions    filed    in    court    for    various    improve- 
ments          953 

Assessment  rolls  filed  in  court  for  confirmation — 

No.  Amount 

Paving,  various  kinds 539  $  5,143,901.58 

Underground  work,  various  kinds   288  1,034,170.90 

Sidewalks,  various  kinds    161  452,237.98 

Openings    and    Widenings    25  263,920.50 

$6,894,230.96 

The  achievements  of  this  department  for  1918  would  have 
broken  all  previous  records,  were  it  not  that  this  Board  adopted 
the  policy  of  deferring  all  improvements  not  absolutely  necessary 
and  vital,  because  of  the  necessity  of  saving  man  power  and 
material  during  the  war,  and  in  order  not  to  work  a  hardship  on 

118 


Board  of  Local  Improvements  119 

the  property  owners  who  have  had  so  many  other  demands  upon 
them.  Notwithstanding  this  handicap,  we  show  565  miles  of 
streets  and  alleys  paved  during  the  past  four  years,  as  against 
500  miles  paved  in  the  four  years  of  the  previous  administration. 

In  the  same  way,  we  show  291  miles  of  sewers  built  in  the 
past  four  years,  as  against  286  miles  in  the  four  years  preceding. 

In  1918  we  completed  the  work  of  this  department  in  the 
improvement  of  12th  Street  from  Ashland  Avenue  to  Michigan 
Avenue.  There  remains  to  be  finished  the  bridge  and  viaduct, 
and  these  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Department  of 
Public  Works.  This  street  gives  a  direct  route  from  the  west  to 
the  south  side,  and  is  a  much  needed  improvement  to  relieve 
congestion  in  traffic. 

Another  essential  improvement  is  the  widening  of  Michigan 
Avenue,  from  Randolph  Street  to  Chicago  Avenue.  We  are 
progressing  very  rapidly  with  this  improvement,  and  all  the  con- 
tracts for  the  work  have  been  awarded  this  year.  That  part  of 
Michigan  Avenue,  from  Chicago  Avenue  to  Ohio  Street,  has 
already  been  widened  and  paved,  and  all  obstructions  have  been 
removed  from  Randolph  Street  to  the  river.  The  contractors 
can  go  ahead  and  complete  the  entire  improvement  next  year. 

The  opening  and  extending  of  Ogden  Avenue,  from  Union 
Park  to  Lincoln  Park  is  another  necessary  improvement.  During 
the  present  year  we  have  had  a  force  of  engineers  at  work  on 
survey,  which  has  progressed  to  such  a  point  that  it  was  possible 
to  hold  a  public  hearing  on  the  proposed  improvement  on  Decem- 
ber 3,  1918,  where  the  project  was  endorsed  by  the  property 
owners.  A  great  deal  of  work  remains  to  be  done  to  complete 
the  survey  so  as  to  have  complete  plats  of  all  property  taken  or 
damaged.  The  hearing  was  deferred  until  January  7,  1919,  in 
order  to  perfect  the  description  of  the  property  to  be  taken.  The 
total  cost  of  the  improvement,  including  bridges  and  viaducts,  is 
estimated  at  about  $5,000,000.00. 

During  the  coming  year  we  expect  to  complete  the  survey  for 
the  opening  of  Robey  Street  across  the  North  Branch  of  the 
river,  a  large  part  of  this  work  having  been  done  during  the 
current  year. 

We  also  expect  to  complete  the  survey  for  the  widening  of 
Western  Avenue,  from  the  city  limits  on  the  north  to  the  city 
limits  on  the  south. 


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J-X 


122 


Board  of  Local  Improvements 


Board  of  Local  Improvements 


123 


124 


Board  of  Local  Improvements 


We  expect  this  year  to  let  contract  and  start  work  on  the 
Augusta  Street  System  of  Sewers,  the  assessment  for  which  has 
been  confirmed,  and  the  estimated  cost  of  which  is  approximately 
$600,000.00.  The  actual  cost  of  construction  will  exceed  this  by 
a  considerable  amount. 

We  have  just  completed  plans  for  a  large  system  of  low  level 
sewers  in  South  Chicago.  The  special  assessment  is  being  spread, 
and  we  are  in  hopes  that  the  same  will  be  confirmed  so  that  the 
improvement  can  be  under  way  next  year. 

We  give  below  a  tabulation  of  the  work  of  the  Board  of 
Local  Improvements  for  the  years  191 5,  1916,  1917,  and  T918, 
and  also  show,  for  purpose  of  comparison,  a  tabulation  of  the 
work  of  this  department  for  the  years  191 1,  1912,  1913  and  1914: 


Street  Paving 


1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 

(1915-1918) 
Miles             Amount 
149.67       $5,302,081.00 
163.46         6,156,960.00 
166.56         7,464,453.00 
85.65         4,716,388.00 

1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 

(1911- 
Miles 
133. 

98.53 
109.93 
159. 

■1914) 

Amount 

$5,052,876.00 

3,400,000.00 

3,695,077.00 

5,300,000.00 

565.34 


500.46 


Sewers 


1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 

(1915-1918) 

Miles             Amount 
87.88       $1,602,547.00 
83.99         1,732,106.00 
79.16         1,036,307.00 
40.00            400,000.00 

1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 

(1911-1914) 
Miles             Amount 
66            $  685,733.00 
80                756,122.00 
68             1,474,835.00 
72                972,740.00 

291.03 


286 


Drains 


(1915-1918; 

\ 

(1911-: 

1914) 

Number 

Amount 

Number 

Amount 

1915 

9,178 

$ 

92,262.00 

1911 

4,350 

$      51,801.20 

1916 

10,069 

128,557.00 

1912 

3,696 

40,988.00 

1917 

12,668 

174,022.00 

1913 

7,350 

87,388.00 

1918 

3,900 

54,089.00 

1914 

7.048 

79,534.00 

35,815 


22,444 


Board  of  Local  Improvements 


125 


Sidewalks 

(1915-1918) 

(1911-1914) 

Miles 

Amount 

Miles 

Amount 

1915 

270.157 

$1,085,034.28 

1911 

217 

$   845,040.00 

1916 

291.696 

1,147,484.61 

1912 

242 

849,437.00 

1917 

214.1 

1,082,816.58 

1913 

248 

963,838.00 

1918 

86.0 

51,000.00 

1914 

283 

1,255,926.00 

861.953 


Water  Supply  Pipes 

(1915-1918) 
Miles  Amount 

1915  19.1  $    128,273.17  1911 

1916  32.83  252,899.94  1912 

1917  30.55  323,339.53  1913 

1918  4.45  49,529.61  1914 


86.93 

Water 

(1915-1918) 

Number 

Amount 

1915 

7,400 

$     82,207.64 

1916 

5,566 

80,887.48 

1917 

12,319 

278,766.69 

1918 

3,305 

80,021.28 

(1911-1914) 

Miles 

Amount 

16 

$ 

111,957.31 

12 

114,442.49 

23 

160,150.32 

25 

163,658.96 

(1911-1914) 

Number 

Amount 

1911 

3,041 

$     46,580.44 

1912 

3,332 

43,803.84 

1913 

5,647 

77,211.14 

1914 

6,748 

81,817.26 

28,590 


18,768 


Assessment  Rolls  Filed  in  Court  for  Confirmation 


1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 

1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 


Paving 

$6,616,658.30 

8,145,273.22 

6,132,902.00 

5,143,901.58 

3,913,122.75 
5,261,759.70 
6,980,906.32 
6,440,767.79 


(1915-1918) 
Underground 

Work  Sidewalks 

$2,180,395.08  $895,116.91 

1,405,946.79  849,385.68 

2,619,625.84  355,430.48 

1,034,170.90  452,237.98 


(1911-1914) 
1,909,221.75      492,931.01 
1.566,762.26      296,186.36 
2,197,725.03      803,327.79 
1.267,790.93       364,970.16 


Open,  and 

Widenings 

$7,393,617.25 

230,111.50 

185,877.00 

263,920.50 


Total 

$17,085,787.54 

10,630.717.19 

9,293,835.22 

6,894,230.96 


137,181.20  6,452,456.71 

350,000.00  7.474,708.32 

196,468.75  10,178,427.89 

3,347,526.40  11,421,055.28 


CITY  COLLECTOR 

Chas.  J.  Forsberg 

T^HE  City  Collector  ^ ^  collects  all  moneys 

due  the  City  of  /  ^f^  \  Chicago  for  general 
and    special    licenses,     /  ^K  \     fees    for    inspections, 

compensation  for  per-  /  ^Hh^  ^^k,  \  mits  and  franchises, 
Municipal    Court  /     IHT    «^  \  fines,  market  fees  and 

special  assessment  in-         ^HHajm  stallments    due.     De- 

spite   the    unsettled  1      ^^H^E^  /  conditions  due  to  the 

war,  the  business  \ ^^B^^^^i|||^^  /  transacted  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  City  Col-  ^^^^^^IHI'^  lector  during  the  year 
1918  did  not  vary  ^^^Hfl|^  greatly  in  volume 
from    the    preceding  ^^^^^^         year.     There  are  two 

notable  exceptions.  A  loss  of  approximately  $1,000,000.00  has 
been  sustained  in  saloon  license  revenues  as  compared  with  the 
previous  year,  while  special  assessment  collections  for  street  im- 
provements show  an  increase  of  about  $10,000,000.00  over  the 
year  1917. 

The  decrease  in  the  number  of  saloons  is  attributable  to  a 
number  of  causes  which  from  time  to  time  have  been  given  such 
publicity  as  to  make  explanations  here  superfluous.  However,  a 
part  of  the  loss  above  mentioned  is  more  apparent  than  real  and 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  for  the  period  commencing  November  i, 
1918,  saloon  licenses  were  issued  for  a  period  of  three  months 
under  an  ordinance  recently  passed,  whereas  prior  thereto  licenses 
were  issued  for  periods  of  six  months  only. 

In  the  1917  session  of  the  Illinois  General  Assembly  a  law 
was  enacted  extending  the  time  from  March  10  to  August  i  in 
each  year  that  special  assessment  installments  could  be  paid  to 
the  City  Collector  rather  than  to  the  County  Collector.  Oper- 
ating under  this  law  in  1918,  special  assessment  collections 
amounted  to  approximately  thirteen  million  dollars  as  against 
three  million  dollars  collected  in  the  short  period  in  1917.  The 
collection  of  these  installments  by  the  City  Collector  effected  a 
saving  to  the  City  of  about  $100,000.00  which  would  have  been 
paid  to  the  County  Collector  in  fees  had  the  collections  been 
made  by  tlie  latter.  It  is  estimated  that  a  further  gain  of  about 
$100,000.00  will  accrue  to  the  City  in  interest  on  the  funds  col- 

126 


City  Collector 


127 


lected,  these  being  deposited  at  once,  under  the  present  system, 
with  the  City  Treasurer.  The  taxpayer  also  benefited  by  this 
change  through  the  saving  of  fees  heretofore  paid  to  the  County 
Collector  on  each  item  which  went  to  him,  and  which  was  then 
considered  delinquent. 

A  slight  decrease  is  shown  in  revenue  from  warrants  for 
collection.  This  is  partially  due  to  the  reduction  in  forces  of 
inspectors  in  the  Boiler  Department,  Electrical  Inspection  Depart- 
ment and  the  Building  Department.  The  restriction  in  building 
operations  during  the  year  1918  has  also  contributed  to  the  loss 
in  revenue  in  this  department. 

Revenue  from  licenses  and  permits  has  decreased  consider- 
ably owing  to  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  saloons  are  dis- 
continuing business,  due  to  the  high  price  of  liquors,  government 
restrictions,  and  the  general  tendency  towards  prohibition.  We 
might  also  attribute  part  of  the  loss  in  permit  fees  to  the  limita- 
tion of  construction  work  to  essentials.  Under  this  heading  are 
collected  Building  Permits,  Sidewalk  Permits,  Sanitary  Permits, 
House  Drain  Permits,  etc. 

Each  succeeding  year  has  shown  an  increase  in  the  collection 
of  vehicle  tax  until  the  year  1918.  This  year  would  have  shown 
a  much  larger  increase  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  a  great 
number  of  men  were  absent  in  the  military  service. 

Comparative  Statement  of  Collections — City  Collector's 

Office 


Special 

Warrants  for 

Licenses  and 

Assessments 

Collection 

Permits 

1914 

$  2,391,487.42 

$3,169,729.74 

$8,628,663.91 

1915 

2,423,388.65 

2,701,195.26 

8,842,099.57 

1916 

4,684,392.49 

3,578,626.86 

8,662,369.59 

1917 

3,171,262.67 

3,232,036.04 

7,955,174.02 

*1918 

13,000,000.00 

3,150,000.00 

6,000,000.00 

Vehicle  Tax 

Insurance  Tax 

Special  Deposits 

1914 

$    786,129.05 

$211,606.30 

$246,796.59 

1915 

763,577.65 

216,206.54 

315,929.09 

1916 

986,231.17 

222,680.30 

223,069.86 

1917 

1,135,701.65 

238,952.47 

147,070.70 

*1918 

1,150,000.00 

280,000.00 

160,000.00 

12« 

City  Collector 

Miscellaneous 

Totals 

1914 

$    914,853.21 

$22,049,005.70 

1915 

818,211.59 

23,676,732.23 

1916 

1,120,545.65 

27,053,971.82 

1917 

883,168.19 

26,215,021.55 

"1918 

890,000.00 

28,000,000.00 

^'December,   1918,  estimated. 


[ 


DEPARTMENT  OF  INSPECTION  OF  STEAM 
BOILERS  AND  STEAM  PLANTS 

George  Nye,  Chief  Inspector 

T^HE  duties   of  the  j^^KS^^         department     as     pre- 

scribed  by  or-  .(^IP***^^^^  dinance  are  to  inspect 
all  boilers,  tanks,  ket-    ^  ^\    ^^^^>     cooling     plants, 

and  all  apparatus  op-  i|H|9h  0SllUk  \  ^^^^^"^  under  pres- 
sure. The  ordinance  l^m  r'^'^^^^p  \  provides  for  the  in- 
spection of  high-pres-  vKm  ^^^  Jy  sure  apparatus  once 
each  year  and  low-  V^^L^'^^M^  /  pressure  apparatus 
once  in  each  three  W^^HP^BI/  years.  The  magni- 
tude of  this  work,  if  \m^^^^^^^  properly  performed, 
can  be  appreciated  ^5p^^P^>/  when  it  is  stated  that 
there  are  "/,  920  high-  ^.i..^^^  pressure  boilers, 
21,026  low-pressure  boilers,  4,848  tanks,  kettles,  etc.,  and  912 
cooling  plants  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

During  this  administration  there  has  not  been  a  loss  of  a 
single  life  reported  as  the  result  of  an  explosion  of  a  plant  or 
apparatus  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  department.  Several 
slight  accidents  reported  to  and  investigated  by  the  department 
were  found  to  be  equipment  or  apparatus  exempted  from  inspec- 
tion by  city  ordinance.  In  order  to  prevent  a  repetition  of  these 
accidents  the  department  has  had  ordinances  introduced  in  the 
City  Council,  placing  such  apparatus  under  its  jurisdiction. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  present  chief,  the  rules  governing 
the  construction  and  installation  of  boilers  have  been  entirely 
revised  and  standardized  to  conform  with  the  best  laws  through- 
out the  country,  so  that  plant  owners  are  assured  that  the  boilers 
installed  in  Chicago  are  the  best  it  is  possible  to  obtain. 

Rules  prepared  by  the  department  governing  the  construc- 
tion and  installation  of  cooling  plants  have  been  recommended  to 
other  cities  and  states  for  universal  adoption  by  a  committee  rep- 
resenting the  manufacturers  of  refrigeration  plants.  This  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  rules  for  a  universal  code 
throughout  the  United  States  and  it  adopted,  without  change, 
the  rules  formulated  by  the  Chicago  Boiler  Inspection  Depart- 
ment. 

The  efficiency  of  the  department  has  been  seriously  handi- 
capped during  the  last  year  on  account  of  a  lack  of  sufficient 

129 


130 


Boiler  Inspection  Department 


funds.  The  department  being  unable,  with  the  appropriation 
made  available  for  its  operation,  to  employ  sufficient  inspectors 
to  make  the  inspections  required  by  ordinance,  the  postponement 
of  inspections  was  necessitated,  thereby  incurring  the  risk  of  ex- 
plosions in  uninspected  boilers.  On  account  of  this  condition  in 
City  finances,  it  became  necessary  to  postpone  until  1919  the 
following  inspections  which  should  have  been  made  during  last 
year: 

High  Pressure  Boilers 1,138 

Low  Pressure  Boilers    6,167 

Tanks,  Kettles,  etc 1,509 

Cooling  Plants   99 


Total 8,913 


DEPAI2TnEAlT  ^^  I/S5PECT10M 
^OTEAH  B01LEB!)£;5TEAM  PLAMT5 

SnOWl/NG      RELATION     OF    VEABUY    APPEOPRlATIOrH       TO  EEVEAHUE. 
COLLECTED    FOR  TME  CITY 

-^-A   5TUDY    m    EFFICIEMCY-^ 

90,000 
80,000 
70,000 
60,000 
50,000 
40.000 
50,000 
20.000 
10,000 
0 

1914                 1915 

i9ie 

1917 

1918 

r-yC)b5   PPi/t... 

_-J^nui 

: 

/ 

~^,^ 

/ 

'^-. 

■ — ^__^ 

^^^. 

^• 

^^ 

^-v. 

^^^^0^,^^^; 

Vy       -v,,^^^ 

^ 

--^__ 

1 

In  addition  to  the  menace  to  public  safety  which  this  situation 
presents,  it  is  also  an  unfortunate  feature  that  the  inability  of  the 
department  to  reach  these  units  for  inspection,  with  the  limited 
force  of  inspectors,  occasioned  a  net  loss  in  revenue  to  the  city 
of  approximately  $25,000.00  over  and  above  the  cost  of  making 
such  inspections. 


Boiler  Inspection  Department 


131 


This    lank    was    not   inspected    owing    lo   insufficient  force 

The  following  table  should  be  of  interest,  showing  as  it  does, 
for  the  past  five  years,  the  appropriations  made  for  the  operation 
of  the  department,  and  the  net  profit  made  by  the  City  from 
such  operation : 


Appropriation 
$52,305.12 

53,125.12 

44,415.49 

35,340.72 

35,598.20 


Year 

Net  Revenup 

1914 

$20,408.57 

1915 

29,221.93 

1916 

31,665.99 

1917 

33,512.08 

1918 

19,806.76 

DEPARTMENT  OF  WEIGHTS  AND 
MEASURES 

Morris  Eller,  Commissioner 


of  Weights  and  Meas- 
of  the  city  adminis- 
suffered  severely 
sighted  poUcy  of  re- 
diture  without  taking 
losses  entailed  by 
This  department 
purpose  of  assuring 
that  they  will  receive 
measure  when  mak- 
basis  of  weigkt  or 
In   fuUfilling  this  purpose,  the 


'T^  H  E     Department 
ures  is  a  branch 

tration    which    has 

through     the     short- 

trenchment  of  expen- 

into  account  the 

such  a  policy. 

is  maintained  for  the 

the  people  of  Chicago 

full    weight     and 

ing  purchases  on  the 

measure,  either  dry  or  liquid, 
department  inspected  104,938  scales  and  measures  in  1916,  and 
collected  fees  for  making  these  inspections  to  the  amount  of 
$28,159.00;  in  1917  there  was  a  total  of  95,944  inspections,  yield- 
ing $27,117.55  in  fees;  in  1918,  exclusive  of  December,  there  was 
a  total  of  77,698  inspections,  yielding  $24,723.90  in  fees. 

The  reduction  in  the  number  of  inspections  made,  and  the 
consequence  falling  off  in  revenue  are  the  result  of  reducing  the 
working  force  in  this  department,  the  City  Council  deeming  it 
advisable,  in  view  of  Chicago's  critical  financial  condition,  to  re- 
duce the  force  of  the  department  one-third,  with  the  result  that 
this  protection  of  the  consumers  has  been  necessarily  curtailed. 
Complaints  from  citizens  because  of  short  weights  at  one  time  in 
1918  were  so  numerous  that  it  became  necessary  to  call  upon  the 
overburdened  Police  Department  for  assistance  in  making  inspec- 
tions. 

The  net  cost  to  the  City  of  Chicago  of  this  department  for  the 
[)eriod  from  January  to  November,  inclusive,  in  19 18,  after  de- 
ducting from  the  total  expenditures  for  this  service  the  amount 
received  by  the  City  in  fees  collected  and  fines  imposed  as  pen- 
alties for  giving  short  weights  and  short  measures,  was  $4,506.34. 
This  was  but  a  drop  in  the  bucket  as  compared  with  the  saving 
to  our  people  which  was  effected  through  this  department  by  the 
discovery  and  correction  of  dishonest  scales  and  measures. 

132 


CHICAGO  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

Alfred  E.  Barr,  President 


rpHE  Public  Li- 
tained  a  steady 
past  year.  Statistic- 
ally the  salient  points 
are  exhibited  in  the 
iires  being  available 
months,  January  to 
ive)  : 


b  r  a  r  y  has  main- 
growth  in  all  its 
activities  during  the 
of  the  year's  work 
following  table  (fig- 
at  this  time  for  eleven 
November,    i  n  c  1  u  s- 


1918  1917 

Number  of  Volumes    in   Library 925,297  851,853 

Home  Circulation,  volumes    6,013,322  5,496,641 

Reference   Use,  volumes    671,490  764,303 

Total   Use,  volumes    6,684,812  6,260,944 

Number  of   Borrowers    350,778  334,930 

Number  of  Branches   49  45 

Total  Number  of  Library  Agencies 1,024  1,001 

The  service  which  the  Library  has  been  able  to  render  to 
the  numerous  military  and  naval  stations,  training  schools  and 
auxiliary  establishments  in  and  around  Chicago  has  been  large 
and  apparently  much  appreciated.  Purchases  of  books  in  ample 
quantities  for  such  service  were  freely  authorized  by  the  Board 
and  conditions  and  regulations  surrounding  the  loan  of  Library 
books  to  the  civil,  military  and  naval  organizations  and  indi- 
vidual members  thereof  were  modified  wherever  practicable  in 
order  to  place  the  resources  of  the  Library  as  completely  as 
possible  at  the  disposal  of  the  nation  in  the  time  of  need. 

The  co-operation  of  the  Public  Library  with  the  public 
schools  is  one  phase  of  the  work  that  has  enjoyed  particular 
increase  during  the  year  not  only  in  numerical  proportions  of  the 
use  of  the  Library  by  teachers  and  pupils,  to  whom  books  are 
delivered  in  well-selected  groups  for  use  in  the  school  room,  but 
also  in  general  appreciation  and  the  widespread  realization  on  the 
part  of  the  schools  of  the  great  possibilities  involved  in  such  co- 
operation.    Limitations  of  space  alone  retard  the  expansion  of 

133 


134  Chicago  Public  Library 

this  service  to  cover  the  entire  school  system  and  it  is  a  pleasure 
to  be  able  to  look  forward  to  the  probability  that  these  limitations 
may  soon  be  reduced  if  not  entirely  overcome. 

After  twenty  years  of  occupancy  the  splendid  central  library 
building  is  becoming  inadequate,  and  the  need  for  additional 
space  to  provide  for  the  constantly  growing  activities  of  the 
Library  is  becoming  urgent.  With  the  revocation  of  the  official 
prohibitions  against  building  operation,  one  of  the  principal 
undertakings  of  the  coming  year  will,  therefore,  be  the  erection 
of  the  large  Regional  Branch  building,  for  which  the  site  has 
already  been  secured  at  Monroe  Street  and  Crawford  Avenue. 
The  Library  Board  has  planned  that  will  be  followed  by  several 
other  buildings  of  similar  size  at  various  points  throughout  the 
city,  and,  upon  the  completion  of  this  construction  program,  it 
can  safely  be  predicted  that  the  provision  of  library  facilities  in 
Chicago  will  surpass  in  scope  and  quality  anything  of  this  nature 
in  any  city  of  the  country. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  SUPPLIES 


James  Rea,  Business  Agent 


T^HIS  department 
to  centralize  and 
chase  of  supplies  for 
in  cases  where  the 
less  than  $500.00. 
of  that  amount  are 
bids  by  the  different 
special  Council  au- 
cases. 

supplies    this    depart- 
est  range  of  competi- 


was  created  in  1898 
standardize  the  pur- 
the  City  of  Chicago 
amount  involved  is 
Purchases  in  excess 
made  by  advertised 
departments  or  by 
thority  in  individual 
In  purchasing 
ment  invites  the  wid- 
tion  and  accords  fair 


treatment  to  all  bidders,  with  the  result  that  it  receives  the  very 
best  prices  and  the  same  quality  of  service  obtained  by  any  of 
the  large  commercial  firms. 

It  has  been  found  by  purchasing  bodies,  commercial  and 
municipal,  that  the  centralization  and  standardization  of  pur- 
chases, and  having  definite  and  comprehensive  specifications  for 
bidders  effects  a  marked  saving  and  secures  keener  competition. 
This  department  has  assisted  many  other  city  departments  by  aid- 
ing them  to  put  these  principles  into  practice. 

The  expansion  of  the  City  has  been  constant  and  the  growth 
of  the  municipal  departments  necessarily  should  be  commen- 
surate. With  this  growth  of  the  various  municipal  activities  has 
developed  the  need  of  a  broader  department  for  the  purchasing 
of  all  supplies  required  for  the  city. 

Not  only  have  great  municipalities  and  commercial  corpora- 
tions generally  realized  the  necessity  for  standardizing  and  cen- 
tralizing their  purchases  but  the  United  States  Government  has 
acted  upon  this  same  principle,  with  the  sole  idea  of  producing 
an  effective,  economical  and  efficient  purchasing  system  for  han- 
dling its  requirements. 

The  centralization  of  purchases  is  considered  so  important 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  city  and  the  several  departments  com- 
posing the  municipal  government  that  an  ordinance  has  been 
prepared  by  the  head  of  the  department  of  supplies  which,  if 

135 


136  Department  of  Supplies 

adopted,  will  centralize  in  one  department  all  purchases  made  for 
the  city.  The  proposed  ordinance  retains  that  feature  of  the 
present  which  requires  that  all  contracts  over  $500.00  in  amount 
be  awarded  to  the  lowest  responsible  bidder  after  advertising  that 
proposals  are  desired.  It  is  confidently  predicted  that  the  adop- 
tion of  this  proposed  ordinance  would  result  in  coordinating  and 
standardizing  the  city's  purchases  and  in  a  material  saving  over 
the  present  confused  system. 


CIVIL  SERVICE  COMMISSION 


ALEX.  J.  JOHNSON 


PERCY  B.  COFFIN,  Pres. 


JOSEPH  P.   GEARY 


|URING  the  incumbency  of  the  present  Civil  Service  Com- 
mission, that  body  has  devoted  its  entire  time  and  attention  to 
administering  the  duties  of  its  office  within  the  confines  of  the 
powers  conferred  upon  it  by  law,  viz. ;  classifying  positions,  adopt- 
ing rules  and  regulations  governing  examinations,  appointments 
and  removals ;  providing  for  promotion,  investigating  and  hearing 
charges  against  employees,  and  all  questions  relating  to  the  en- 
forcement of  the  act,  the  actions  of  examiners  and  appointees, 
and  ascertaining  the  nature,  tenure  and  compensation  of  all  offices 
and  places  in  the  classified  service. 

Examinations 

During  the  year  19 18,  notwithstanding  war  conditions,  the 
Commission  held  117  examinations. 

Reports 

The  number  of  reports  received  from  department  heads  and 
entered  on  the  records  of  this  office  during  the  last  year  was 
26,767.  This  great  number  resulted  from  the  many  leaves  of 
absence  to  enter  the  military  service,  and  those  waiving  certifica- 
tion for  the  same  reason. 

Pay-Roll  Checking  from  Card  System 

Ever  since  the  adoption  of  the  Civil  Service  Act,  the  checking 
of  pay-rolls  has  been  done  according  to  the  old  bound  book 
method.     That  system  has  caused  considerable  delay  in  the  pay- 

137 


138  Civil  Service  Commission 

nient  of  salaries  of  employees  and  the  Commission  is  now  install- 
ing the  more  modern  card  system  of  pay-roll  checking,  which 
will  enable  the  work  to  be  done  with  greater  dispatch  and  result 
in  the  payment  of  employees'  salaries  and  wages  promptly  on 
their  respective  pay  days. 

Removals 

Out  of  a  yearly  average  of  14,093  employees  in  the  official  and 
skilled  labor  service,  for  the  10  years  preceding  1918,  there  was  a 
yearly  average  of  86  removals.  For  the  year  1918  the  number  of 
removals  was  considerably  less  than  the  average,  being  only  67 
in  the  official  service,  thus  denoting  greater  harmony  between  the 
department  heads  and  employees,  with  resulting  increased  effi- 
ciency to  the  city. 

Temporary  Appointments 

Owing  to  large  numbers  of  men  and  women  being  called  for 
the  military  and  naval  service,  the  Commission  early  recognized 
the  necessity  for  protecting  the  rights  of  such  employees  while 
absent  from  the  city  service.  Section  4  (a)  of  Rule  8  was  there- 
fore amended  as  follows : 

"Where  leave  is  requested  to  enable  an  officer  or  employee 
*  *  *  to  enter  the  Army  or  Navy  of  the  United  States  or  any 
employment  connected  with  the  national  defense  the  same  may  be 
granted  for  periods  of  one  year,  and  during  the  actual  service 
of  such  officer  or  employee  in  such  position." 

Because  of  the  large  number  of  absentees  in  the  military  and 
naval  service  temporary  authorities  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the 
departments  were  granted.  From  the  Bureau  of  Engineering  307 
employees  entered  the  military  or  naval  service.  Among  these 
were  the  Assistant  City  Engineer,  the  Mechanical  Engineer  in 
charge  of  waste  disposal  and  others  employed  by  the  Bureau  as 
draftsmen,  engineers,  rodmen,  clerks,  etc. 

In  the  Health  Department  135  entered  the  military  or  naval 
service,  including  the  Superintendent  of  Contagious  Disease  Hos- 
pital. The  others  were  physicians,  nurses,  medical  inspectors  and 
clerks.  On  account  of  the  emergency  nature  of  the  work  and 
also  the  recent  epidemic  of  influenza,  most  of  these  positions  had 
to  be  filled  by  temporary  authority. 

The  Street  Bureau  has  60  employees  in  the  military  or  naval 
service,  about  25  laborers  and  35  clerks,  street  repair  foremen, 


Civil  Service  Commission  139 

besides  the  engineer  of  track  elevation.  As  these  are  positions 
which  must  be  filled,  it  has  caused  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
temporary  appointments. 

In  the  Police  Department,  outside  of  the  active  force,  there 
are  about  30  clerks  and  stenographers  in  the  military  or  naval 
service,  beside  the  Chief  Censor  of  Moving  Pictures,  the  Depart- 
ment Inspector  and  two  Inspectors  of  Personnel. 

From  the  Public  I^ibrary,  41  entered  the  military  or  naval 
service.  In  addition  about  one  hundred  library  assistants  were 
called  into  the  clerical  service  of  the  United  States  Government 
on  account  of  their  library  training  and  expert  knowledge  of  the 
duodecimal  system  used  extensively  in  the  Government  service  in 
the  compilation  of  statistics.  This  has  necessitated  making  tem- 
porary appointments  to  train  competent  assistants  for  library 
work  during  the  absence  of  the  force  working  for  the  Govern- 
ment. 

Owing  to  the  salary  paid  Pages,  namely  $35.00  per  month,  it 
is  impossible  to  keep  a  live,  eligible  register  for  certification  to 
these  positions;  therefore,  temporary  authority  was  granted  to 
employ  eighty  Pages  in  the  library  service. 

During  the  perod  of  the  war  there  were  1,452  military  leaves 
of  absence  approved  by  the  Commission  in  the  Official  and  Skilled 
Labor  Service  representing  approximately  10%  of  the  total  num- 
ber of  city  employees  in  said  service. 

Total  Number  of  Temporary  Employees,  April  24,  1915 2,714 

Total  Number  of  Temporary  Employees,  December  1,  1918,  in- 
cluding authorities  granted  to  fill  vacancies  caused  by  mili- 
tary  leaves    2,216 

Number  of  Employees  on  Military  Leave,  December  1,  1918.  .  .  .1,572 


GO-OPERATION  WITH  FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT 

Contrary  to  the  representations  of  certain  newspapers  the 
Municipal  Government  of  Chicago  has  heartily  cooperated  with 
the  Federal  authorities  in  prosecuting  the  activities  essential  to  the 
conduct  of  the  war.  When  it  became  necessary  to  condvict  reg- 
istration in  the  city  of  Chicago  of  all  men  who  were  eligible  for 
military  service  and  within  the  draft  age,  the  Mayor  appointed 
as  the  registration  board  for  such  registration  the  county  judge 
the  health  commissioner,  and  the  corporation  counsel. 

Commended  by  Adjutant-General 

The  work  of  registration  was  under  the  Mayor's  guidance 
and  resulted  in  the  registration  of  over  300,000  men.  The  work 
was  conducted  in  such  a  manner  that  it  elicited  the  warmest  com- 
mendation of  the  adjutant-general  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  He 
wrote  as  follows : 

"The  governor  has  read  your  report  with  a  great  deal  of  interest 
and  wishes  me  to  express  to  you  his  appreciation  of  the  very  satis- 
factory manner  in  which  the  preliminary  steps  pertaining  to  the 
registration  have  so  far  been  carried  out  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  I 
may  add  for  myself  that  I  consider  the  system  of  cards,  notices  and 
envelopes  admirable  to  effect  the  purpose  in  view." 

Law  Department  Represented  National  Government 

After  the  registration  was  completed  eighty  boards  of  exemp- 
tion were  appointed.  Under  the  law  the  corporation  counsel's 
office  was  officially  designated  to  represent  the  federal  govern 
ment  in  connection  with  all  cases  involving  exemptions  in  the 
city  of  Chicago  and  all  appeal  cases.  If  any  legal  question  arose 
and  the  government  wished  to  prosecute  an  appeal  the  law  depart- 
ment represented  the  government  in  handling  the  appeals.  For  a 
long  time  there  was  one  man  in  the  corporation  counsel's  office 
who  devoted  all  his  time  to  this  work. 

The  Visit  of   the   French  Commission 

After  the  visit  of  the  French  Commission  to  Chicago,  Mr 
Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Committee,  in 
a  letter  to  the  corporation  counsel,  wrote  as  follows : 

"]\Iy  dear  Mr.  Ettelson :  Now  that  the  visit  of  the  French  Com- 
mission is  over  the  time   is  come  when  we  may  take  stock  of  those 

1  10 


Cooperation  with  United  States  Government  141 

two  full  days  last  week  and  congratulate  ourselves  for  the  success 
of  the  work.  Had  it  not  been  for  your  constant  endeavors  and  un- 
selfish co-operation  I  doubt  very  much  if  the  visit  could  have  been 
the  success  it  was.  I  remember  clearly  the  account  of  the  hours 
you  spent  at  the  long  distance  telephone  for  the  committee  of  in- 
formation, without  which  it  could  not  have  acted.  Please  convey  to 
Mayor  Thompson  the  appreciation  I  feel,  with  the  reception  com- 
mittee, for  his  co-operation.  Chicago  showed  her  ability  to  work 
well  and  work  together.  The  city  administration  helped,  the  city 
council  helped,  and  our  intellectual  forces  as  represented  in  the  art 
institute  and  the  university,  all  collaborated  to  make  the  occasion 
memorable  in  the  history  of  our  city.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  work 
with  you,  and  I  am  gratified  that  this  service  gave  me  the  oppor- 
tunity of  personal  acquaintance  with  you." 

Liberty   Loans 

Every  department  of  the  city  administration  has  co-operated 
in  the  matter  of  subscriptions  to  all  of  the  Liberty  Loans.  At 
the  time  of  the  First  Liberty  Loan  campaign,  at  the  request  of 
the  salesmen,  the  following  letter  was  addressed  to  the  various 
Department  heads : 

"To  Department  Heads:      The  bearer  is  taking  subscriptions  for 
government  war  bonds.     Please  extend  to  him  all  proper  courtesies. 

(Signed)   "WILLIAM  HALE  THOMPSON,  Mayor." 


The  following  letters  show  the  appreciation  of  those  in  charge 
of  various  local  campaigns  : 

TREASURY   DEPARTMENT 

LIBERTY  LOAN  CAMPAIGN   COMMITTEE 

105  West  Monroe  Street, 

CHICAGO 

May  6,  1918. 
Hon.  William  Hale  Thompson,  Mayor, 
City  Hall,  Chicago. 

My  Dear  Mayor  Thompson:  Now  that  the  Third  Liberty  Loan  is 
over  I  wish  to  take  this  opportunity  of  particularly  thanking  you  for 
your  whole-hearted  co-operation  in  the  work  that  has  just  been  fin- 
ished at  the  city  hall. 

Without  this  co-operation  I  could  not  have  accomplished  anything, 
but  with  this  co-operation  the  city  hall  total  has  been  rolled  up  to  a 
point  that  I  did  not  imagine  possible  when  I  started — $1,529,600. 
Every  department  over  100  per  cent;  the  entire  city  hall  110  per  cent 
efficient;  grand  total,  including  city's  subscription,  $4,529,600. 

I  am  enclosing  you  the  latest  and  final  tabulation.  I  am  sure  you 
will  feel  extremely  proud  of  wha^  the  city's  employees  under  you 
have  done  in  this  t*-e  Third  Libert  "  Loan. 


142         Cooperation  with  United  States  Government 

Nothing-  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  co-operate  with  you 
in  serving  in  the  same  capacity  in  the  next  Liberty  Loan  that  I  have 
in  this  one. 

Again  thanking  you,  with  kindest  regards, 

Sincerely  yours, 

JOHN  F.  TROW,  Chairman. 

Newspapers  Criticised  for  Suppression  of  Facts 

The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Charles  W.  Folds,  Federal 
Director  of  Sales  for  the  Liberty  Loan  Organization,  United 
States  Treasury  Department,  to  Mr.  Evtgene  R.  Pike,  Comptroller, 
expresses  thanks  for  the  "splendid  subscription"  of  the  city  of 
Chicago,  which  he  declares  gave  "the  final  impetus  necessary  to 
make  the  Chicago  campaign  a  success." 

We  quote  below  in  full  Mr.  Folds'  remarkable  testimonial : 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT 

LIBERTY  LOAN  ORGANIZATION 

Federal  Reserve  District  Number  Seven 

110  S.  Dearborn  Street,  Chicago 

Office  of  Chicago  Liberty  Loan  Committee 

Saturday,  October  19,  1918. 

Dear  Mr.  Pike: 

The  splendid  subscription  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  which  you  ar- 
ranged to  make  in  the  Fourth  Liberty  Loan  and  which  has  now  been 
placed  with  the  banks,  has  given  the  final  impetus  necessary,  I  be- 
lieve, to  make  the  Chicago  campaign  a  great  success. 

I  wish  to  thank  you  and  everyone  who  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
placing  of  this  great  subscription  on  behalf  of  the  Liberty  Loan 
Committee  and  all  of  the  workers. 

/  am  ashamed  of  the  Chicago  morning  papers  that  they  did  not 
give  this  publicity,  as  I  asked  them  to  make  it  a  feature  of  the  morn- 
ing papers. 

Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)      CHARLES  W.  FOLDS, 
Federal  Director  of  Sales  Chicago  and  Cook  County. 

Mr.  Eugene  Pike,  City  Comptroller, 
City  Hall,  Chicago. 


Cooperation  with  United  States  Government        143 

The  following  letter  from  Commandant  Moffet  is  self-ex- 
planatory : 

Office  of  the  Commandant 

U.  S.  Naval  Training  Station 

Great  Lakes,  Illinois. 

December  7.  1918. 
My  Dear  Mr.  Thompson. 

Before  I  relinquish  my  duties  as  Commandant  of  this  training  sta- 
tion to  assume  command  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Mississippi,  I  desire  to  avail 
myself  of  the  opportunity  to  convey  to  you  a  personal  expression  of 
my  high  appreciation  of  and  thanks  for  the  splendid  co-operation  ex- 
tended by  you  in  the  establishment  of  the  United  States  Naval  Aux- 
iliary Reserve  School  at  the  Municipal  Pier  in  Chicago.  This  school 
has  demonstrated  its  value  to  the  service,  and  to  the  country,  in  a 
most  unmistakable  manner,  and  has  been  a  contributing  factor  of 
the  utmost  importance  in  providing  an  efficiently-trained  personnel 
for  the  Naval  Auxiliary  Reserve  during  the  war. 

It  has  been  very  gratifying  to  me  to  observe  the  enthusiastic,  ener- 
getic, loyal  and  consistent  support  and  co-operation  extended  by  the 
business  and  professional  men  of  Chicago  to  the  Navy  during  this 
vi^ar.  It  is  my  feeling  that  the  valuable  assistance  given  by  them 
has  been  a  means  of  adding  very  materially  to  the  satisfactory  man- 
ner in  which  our  work  has  been  accomplished.  The  conspicuous  part 
you  have  taken  in  these  activities  constitutes  a  patriotic  service 
meriting  the  highest  commendation. 

At  the  same  time  I  desire  to  assure  you  that  the  very  agreeable 
personal  relations  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  enjoy  with  you  during 
the  period  of  my  ;-;tay  in  this  vicinity  have  been  a  source  of  much 
pleasure  and  satisfaction. 

Again  thanking  you,  and  with  an  expression  of  my  sincere  good 
wishes,  please  believe  me. 

Very  cordially  yours, 

(Signed)     W.  A.  Moffett, 
Captain,  U.  S.  Navy,  Commandant. 
Hon.  William  Hale  Thompson, 
Mayor,  City  of  Chicago, 
City  Hall, 

Chicago,  111. 


>500 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


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